Tesla CEO Elon Musk made controversial remarks regarding his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” following gender-affirming care. He expressed a determination to confront what he calls the “woke mind virus” during an interview with psychologist Jordan Peterson, which aired on Monday.
Musk characterized gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He revealed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who now identifies as transgender, received gender-affirming treatment during the pandemic and came out as trans at the age of 16. Musk mentioned feeling misled when he signed documents for her treatment, citing the concerns he had been presented with about her mental health during that time, which was marked by the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He criticized the practice of providing such treatments to minors, asserting that it is “incredibly evil” and suggested that those who promote them should face imprisonment. Musk, who has a total of 12 children and has expressed concerns about fertility issues, claimed he was unaware that puberty blockers were effectively sterilization drugs, though such blockers do not directly impact fertility on their own.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk stated, expressing that he has lost his son in the process. He mentioned that the term “deadnaming” reflects the loss of his son’s identity.
These statements come shortly after Musk announced that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas, citing dissatisfaction with California’s AB1955, also known as the SAFETY Act. This law prohibits schools from mandating parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and directs state resources toward supporting LGBTQ+ children. Historically, Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and disseminating anti-trans sentiments.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a legal name change and applied for a new birth certificate, stating her desire to sever ties with her biological father. Musk has attributed their strained relationship to the influence of her progressive school in Los Angeles, a dynamic explored in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Elon Musk, which suggests that this estrangement contributes to his “anti-woke” views.
Musk, who previously held moderate political views, has increasingly aligned with right-wing perspectives on various issues, including diversity, elections, and immigration. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket featuring former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both advocates of the oil industry and critics of clean energy initiatives.