Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed his strong opposition to gender-affirming care during a recent interview with psychologist Jordan Peterson, stating that he feels his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” by it. Musk, who oversees multiple companies including X, condemned gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” His daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at age 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
In the interview, Musk revealed that he felt misled when he consented to medical procedures for his daughter, suggesting that he was fooled into signing documents without a clear understanding of their implications. He mentioned concerns about his child’s mental health at the time, stating he was informed that she might consider suicide.
Musk characterized the medical procedures as affecting children who are not of legal consent age and aligned himself with Peterson’s view that promoting such practices is “incredibly evil,” calling for legal consequences for those involved. He also claimed that he was not adequately informed that puberty blockers could effectively act as sterilization drugs, although puberty blockers alone do not directly affect fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk lamented, expressing that he feels he has lost his son. He attributed the concept of “deadnaming,” which is often used in the transgender community, to the emotional impact of his daughter’s transition.
These comments come shortly after Musk revealed plans for X and SpaceX to relocate to Texas in light of California’s AB1955 legislation. This law prohibits schools from requiring parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and mandates resources for LGBTQ+ children. Musk has faced allegations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans messaging in the past.
Wilson legally changed her name in 2022, stating in court documents her desire to no longer be associated with Musk. He has claimed that their estranged relationship is influenced by her progressive school in Los Angeles, which has been noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk. The biography suggests that this distance from his daughter has fueled Musk’s “anti-woke” rhetoric.
Musk, who was previously known for his centrist views, has increasingly adopted right-wing positions, particularly regarding issues such as diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, both known for their support of traditional energy sources and opposition to clean energy initiatives.