Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed his views on gender-affirming care during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, where he claimed that his transgender daughter was “killed” by the medical procedures involved. He labeled gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” and expressed his determination to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk shared that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, underwent gender-affirming care during the pandemic after coming out as transgender at the age of 16. He recounted feeling misled when he signed documents concerning her treatment, stating that he acted under the belief that it was necessary to prevent potential self-harm during a chaotic time marked by the COVID crisis.
Musk stated his opposition to procedures performed on children who are not of consenting age, aligning with Peterson’s perspective that such practices are harmful and deserving of severe punishment. He claimed that he was never informed that puberty blockers might lead to permanent sterilization, although it is noted that puberty blockers alone do not have a direct impact on fertility.
In his remarks, Musk expressed a sense of loss regarding his relationship with Wilson, emphasizing the emotional weight of what he referred to as “deadnaming,” a term used for referring to someone by their birth name after they have transitioned. He articulated a sense of defeat regarding the estrangement from his daughter, who applied for a legal name change in 2022 and indicated in court that she wishes to sever ties with her biological father.
Musk’s statements come shortly after announcing that X and SpaceX would relocate their operations to Texas, citing dissatisfaction with California’s legislative measures, specifically the SAFETY Act (AB1955) which restricts schools from disclosing a child’s transgender identity to parents without consent. His comments have drawn criticism over accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans narratives.
Additionally, his relationship with his daughter has been linked to his growing anti-woke rhetoric, as described in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk, where the author suggests that this estrangement influenced Musk’s political shift toward right-wing ideologies. Over recent years, Musk has moved away from his previously center-left stance, aligning himself with conservative topics and endorsing candidates who oppose clean energy initiatives.