Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently expressed strong criticisms regarding gender-affirming care during an interview with psychologist and commentator Jordan Peterson. He described his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, as being “killed” by this care, leading him to pledge to combat what he referred to as the “woke mind virus.”
Musk labeled gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” His daughter reportedly received gender-affirming care during the pandemic, transitioning at the age of 16. He claimed that he was misled into signing documents concerning his daughter, expressing regret for not understanding the implications at the time due to the confusion surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns about suicide.
Musk stated that these procedures affect children who are below the age of consent, and he echoed Peterson’s sentiments that promoting such actions is “incredibly evil” and should be punishable by imprisonment. He also alleged that he was never informed that puberty blockers equate to sterilization drugs, although it is noted that puberty blockers alone do not hinder fertility.
He articulated feelings of loss regarding his relationship with Wilson, stating, “I lost my son, essentially,” and critiqued the practice of “deadnaming,” which refers to the use of a trans person’s birth name post-transition.
These remarks follow Musk’s announcement that his companies, X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas in response to California’s SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from enforcing parental notification when a child identifies as transgender and mandates state support for LGBTQ+ children. Musk has faced accusations of promoting transphobic and anti-trans narratives previously.
In 2022, Wilson sought a legal name change and a new birth certificate, indicating her desire to sever ties with Musk. According to biographer Walter Isaacson, Musk has attributed their strained relationship to Wilson’s progressive school in Los Angeles, suggesting it has influenced her views and actions against him.
Over recent years, Musk has shifted from his previously center-left political stance to align more closely with right-wing viewpoints, criticizing diversity initiatives, election integrity, and immigration policies. Recently, he endorsed former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance for the Republican presidential ticket.