Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed his deep concerns regarding gender-affirming care during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk referred to his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, claiming she was “killed” following her receiving such care and stated his intention to combat what he termed the “woke mind virus.”
During the interview, Musk labeled gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” and shared that Wilson came out as transgender at the age of 16 after undergoing gender-affirming treatments during the pandemic. He described a previous situation where he felt misled into signing documents related to his child’s transition, mentioning that the context was confusing due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that he was alarmed by warnings about potential suicide.
Musk criticized the procedures conducted on children who are not of legal consent age and aligned with Peterson’s view that promoting such care is “incredibly evil,” suggesting that advocates should face imprisonment. He also claimed he was not informed that puberty blockers functioned as sterilization drugs, though it is known that puberty blockers alone do not necessarily impact fertility.
Musk shared profound sentiments about feeling he lost his son, associating it with the term “deadnaming,” which refers to using a person’s birth name instead of their chosen name.
These comments followed Musk’s announcement that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas due to California’s AB1955, or SAFETY Act. This legislation bars schools from enforcing rules that require parental notification if a child identifies as transgender, also ensuring state resources are available for LGBTQ+ children. Musk has faced allegations of promoting anti-trans sentiment in the past.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a name change and a new birth certificate, stating in court documents that she wished to disassociate from her biological father. Musk has attributed their strained relationship to the progressive nature of her school, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography, which links his estrangement from Wilson to his increasing anti-woke rhetoric.
Musk, who previously held center-left political views, has shifted towards right-wing positions on various issues, including diversity initiatives and immigration. He recently expressed his support for 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.