Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial comments regarding his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk claimed that after receiving gender-affirming care, he feels as though he has “lost” his daughter and described the care as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He stated that he felt misled into allowing the medical procedures to happen, as he was under the impression that his child might be in danger of suicide.
Musk expressed strong opposition to gender-reassignment surgery for minors, labeling it as “incredibly evil” and suggesting that those who advocate for such procedures should face imprisonment. He emphasized that he did not fully understand the implications of puberty blockers at the time and incorrectly classified them as drugs that affect fertility, despite the fact that they do not directly cause sterilization.
His remarks came shortly after he announced plans for his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, to relocate to Texas, in part due to California’s AB1955 legislation. This law restricts schools from informing parents when their child identifies as transgender and mandates the State Department to provide support for LGBTQ+ youth.
Wilson applied for a name change in 2022, stating her desire to sever ties with her father. Musk has attributed the strained relationship to his daughter’s education in a progressive Los Angeles school, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography of him. Over the past few years, Musk’s political views have shifted notably to the right, contrasting with his previously centrist stance, particularly concerning issues such as diversity, election integrity, and energy policies. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, both known for their strong support of the oil industry and opposition to clean energy initiatives.