Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently expressed his distress over the gender-affirming care received by his transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, suggesting it led to her being “killed” in a metaphorical sense. He made these remarks during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, asserting his determination to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk, who oversees multiple companies including X, criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” His daughter, who came out as transgender at 16, received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. Musk stated that he felt deceived into signing documents regarding Wilson’s healthcare, admitting that he was unaware of the implications at the time due to the chaotic environment caused by COVID-19.
He remarked that the medical procedures are administered to children who are below the age of consent and echoed Peterson’s sentiment by labeling the practice as “incredibly evil,” arguing that advocates for these treatments should face imprisonment. Musk also claimed that he was misled into believing puberty blockers were harmless, asserting they were, in fact, sterilization drugs, despite the fact that puberty blockers do not directly affect fertility.
Musk lamented the loss of his son, referring to the idea of “deadnaming,” emphasizing that it signifies the death of his son from his perspective. His comments come shortly after he announced that X and SpaceX would be relocating to Texas due to California’s recent legislation, AB1955, known as the SAFETY Act, which restricts parental notification when a child identifies as transgender and mandates state resources for LGBTQ+ children.
In 2022, Wilson filed for a name change and a new birth certificate, stating she no longer wishes to be associated with her biological father. Musk has attributed their estrangement to her progressive education in Los Angeles, and biographer Walter Isaacson noted that this strained relationship may be a driving factor behind Musk’s recent anti-woke rhetoric.
Over the past few years, Musk has shifted his political views to align more closely with right-wing narratives, departing from his previously moderate stance. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential campaign of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, who both advocate for the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.