Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently shared his controversial views regarding gender-affirming care during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk declared that he believes his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, was “killed” by such care, vowing to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization,” and discussed Wilson’s transition, noting she came out as transgender at the age of 16 after receiving care during the pandemic. He expressed feeling misled when he signed documents related to Wilson’s transition, stating there was confusion surrounding the situation, and he was concerned about her mental health.
The billionaire described the approach to gender transition in children as “incredibly evil,” agreeing with Peterson that those who promote such practices should face imprisonment. Musk, a father of 12, insisted that he was never informed that puberty blockers could be considered sterilization drugs.
Musk referred to the loss of his relationship with Wilson, indicating that “deadnaming” signifies the loss of his son. His comments followed his announcement that X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas, partly due to California’s AB1955 legislation, which restricts parental notification when a child identifies as transgender.
Wilson sought a name change and a new birth certificate in 2022, expressing a desire to sever ties with her biological father. Musk has attributed the distance between them to her progressive school environment, suggesting that his evolving political stance, which increasingly aligns with right-wing views, is influenced by his strained relationship with his daughter. Recently, Musk endorsed former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom support traditional energy policies and oppose clean energy initiatives.