Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk recently expressed his controversial views regarding his estranged transgender daughter during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk claimed that after his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, received gender-affirming care, he felt as though she was “killed.” He used this incident to advocate for what he described as a battle against the “woke mind virus.”
Musk, who oversees multiple companies including X, criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He revealed that Wilson came out as transgender at age 16 and that she had undergone gender-affirming care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Musk expressed regret about signing necessary documents for Wilson, stating that at the time, he believed it was crucial due to concerns about her potential suicide.
He criticized the process that allows children to undergo such treatments, particularly emphasizing that it is available to those below the age of consent. Musk articulated his belief that promoting such actions is “incredibly evil” and that those advocating for it should face imprisonment. He also claimed that he was not adequately informed about the implications of puberty blockers, asserting they are effectively sterilization drugs, although he noted that these blockers alone do not affect fertility.
Musk lamented losing his son in the context of naming changes and the term “deadnaming,” emphasizing the emotional impact of such transformations. His statements come shortly after he announced that X and SpaceX would be relocating to Texas, motivated by California’s AB1955, also known as the SAFETY Act, which restricts schools from notifying parents if their child identifies as transgender.
Musk’s daughter applied for a legal name change in 2022, rejecting any connection to her biological father. He has attributed the estrangement to her progressive schooling in Los Angeles, a sentiment reflected in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk, which connects this family dynamic to his shift in political views. Over recent years, Musk has increasingly adopted right-wing perspectives, diverging from his previous center-left stance, particularly in areas such as diversity initiatives and immigration.