Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed his controversial views on gender-affirming care during an interview with psychologist and commentator Jordan Peterson, stating that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” by the decisions surrounding her care. Musk described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” asserting that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, underwent gender-affirming treatment during the pandemic and came out as transgender at the age of 16.
Musk claimed that he was deceived into signing documents related to his daughter’s transition, expressing regret and confusion from that time, particularly under the strains of the COVID pandemic. He also voiced strong opposition to the treatment of minors, agreeing with Peterson’s assertion that such practices are “incredibly evil” and advocating for imprisonment for those promoting it. Musk has 12 children and has previously highlighted concerns about fertility and declining population.
In his comments, Musk lamented losing his son, using the term “deadnaming” to describe the situation, which suggests that he believes part of his child’s identity has been lost. His remarks come amid recent moves for his companies, including X and SpaceX, to relocate to Texas due to California’s new legislation, the SAFETY Act, which restricts schools from notifying parents about a child’s transgender identity.
Musk’s daughter legally changed her name in 2022, stating in court that she wished to sever ties with her biological father. Musk has attributed the estrangement to her progressive schooling, as detailed in Walter Isaacson’s biography. This rift is suggested to have influenced Musk’s increasingly right-leaning political stances and rhetoric in recent years, diverging from his previously more centrist views.