Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial remarks about his transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, which he labeled as “child mutilation and sterilization.” Musk expressed his views during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, where he criticized gender-reassignment surgery and voiced a commitment to combating what he termed the “woke mind virus.”
Musk disclosed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He described feeling “tricked” into signing documents regarding his child’s care, attributing his lack of understanding to the chaos brought on by COVID-19 and fears that his child might attempt suicide.
Highlighting his stance against gender-affirming treatments for minors, Musk aligned himself with Peterson, stating that the practice is “incredibly evil” and suggested that those who support it should face imprisonment. Musk, who has 12 children, further claimed he was never informed that puberty blockers could be considered sterilization drugs, despite research indicating they do not affect fertility.
“I lost my son, essentially. They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead,” Musk asserted.
These statements emerge after Musk announced plans for X and SpaceX to relocate to Texas, citing California’s AB1955, known as the SAFETY Act, which prevents schools from enforcing policies that require parental notification if a child identifies as transgender. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans rhetoric in the past.
In 2022, Wilson sought a name change and a new birth certificate, indicating in legal documents her desire to dissociate from Musk entirely. According to biographer Walter Isaacson, Musk attributes his strained relationship with his daughter to her progressive education in Los Angeles, suggesting this disconnect has influenced his anti-woke viewpoints.
Over recent years, Musk has shifted from his previously center-left politics to adopt more right-wing rhetoric, addressing issues like diversity initiatives, election fraud, and immigration. Earlier this month, he endorsed the Republican presidential candidates, including former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom champion the oil industry and opposition to clean energy initiatives.