Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed intense criticism of gender-affirming care during a recent interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk described his estranged transgender daughter as being “killed” by such care and expressed his determination to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk characterized gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” sharing that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, received gender-affirming treatment during the pandemic and came out as transgender at the age of 16. He mentioned feeling misled into signing documents regarding his child’s care, particularly during the chaotic period of COVID-19, when he was allegedly told that Wilson might attempt suicide.
He emphasized that decisions affecting children, especially those not of legal age, are problematic and echoed Peterson’s views on the subject, declaring it “incredibly evil” and suggesting that those promoting such care should be imprisoned. Musk also claimed he was never informed that puberty blockers might be considered “sterilization drugs,” despite these blockers not affecting fertility directly.
Musk lamented his strained relationship with his child, saying, “I lost my son, essentially,” and discussing the term “deadnaming” as indicative of his loss. His remarks surfaced shortly after he announced that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas in response to California’s AB1955, legislation that prohibits schools from notifying parents if their child identifies as transgender.
Musk’s daughter sought a name change in 2022, stating in court documents her desire to dissociate completely from her biological father. Musk has attributed the rift to the progressive environment of her school in Los Angeles, with biographer Walter Isaacson linking Musk’s anti-woke sentiments to his fractured relationship with Wilson.
In a notable shift from his former center-left positions, Musk has increasingly aligned with right-wing ideologies on various issues, including race and election fraud. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom support traditional energy policies and oppose clean energy initiatives.