Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently expressed his views on gender-affirming care during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk claimed that his transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, was “killed” by her decision to pursue gender-affirming treatment, which he referred to as “child mutilation and sterilization.” Wilson came out as transgender at the age of 16 and reportedly received gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
Musk said he felt “tricked” into signing documents regarding his daughter’s transition, mentioning that he was under significant stress and confusion due to the pandemic and concerns about suicide risks. He criticized the practice of gender-affirming care for minors, expressing agreement with Peterson that it is “incredibly evil” and suggested that those who promote such care should face imprisonment. Although Musk has twelve children and has discussed topics like fertility and underpopulation, he claimed he was not informed that puberty blockers could lead to sterilization.
In his remarks, Musk indicated that he feels he has lost his son, stating that the term “deadnaming” reflects a loss comparable to death. His comments followed his announcement of relocation plans for his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, to Texas, in response to California’s SAFETY Act. This legislation restricts how schools handle transgender identities, requiring parental notification and state support for LGBTQ+ youth.
Musk’s estranged relationship with Wilson has drawn attention, particularly since she sought a name change and new birth certificate to sever ties with her father. Musk has attributed the distance to the influence of progressive schooling. Over recent years, he has shifted from center-left to more right-wing perspectives, tackling issues from diversity initiatives to election fraud, and recently endorsed the Republican ticket led by Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance.