Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed his strong opinions on gender-affirming care during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk claimed that his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, was “killed” by the care she received, which led him to declare a mission to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
In the interview, Musk referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization” and shared that Wilson came out as transgender at the age of 16 after receiving such care during the pandemic. He recounted feeling misled when he signed documents related to his daughter’s transition, emphasizing that the situation unfolded in a climate of confusion exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Musk remarked that the procedures are performed on minors who are not of consent age and echoed Peterson’s sentiments by stating that promoting such practices is “incredibly evil.” He also asserted that he was not informed that puberty blockers could act as sterilization agents, despite medical consensus indicating that they do not directly impact fertility.
He stated, “I was tricked into doing this,” and lamented that he feels he has lost a son, using the term “deadnaming” to reflect his feelings on Wilson’s name change.
These comments come shortly after Musk announced plans for his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, to relocate to Texas due to California’s AB1955, also known as the SAFETY Act. This legislation restricts schools from notifying parents if their child identifies as transgender and requires state resources to support LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans narratives in the past.
Wilson applied for a name change in 2022, explicitly stating she wishes to distance herself from her father. Musk, according to a biography by Walter Isaacson, attributes the strained relationship to the progressive environment of Wilson’s school.
In recent times, Musk has shifted from his previously center-left political stance to embrace more right-wing views on topics such as diversity initiatives, election integrity, and immigration policy. Earlier this month, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket, including former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom oppose clean energy initiatives.