Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made headlines with his controversial remarks regarding his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson. In a recent interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk claimed that his daughter was “killed” following her decision to undergo gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He expressed his intention to “destroy the woke mind virus” and criticized gender-reassignment surgery, calling it “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk revealed that he felt misled when he signed documents concerning his daughter’s transition when she was 16, stating that he was under pressure due to concerns about her mental health amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. He voiced his belief that the procedures conducted on minors, who are incapable of giving informed consent, are “incredibly evil” and suggested that those advocating for such care should face imprisonment. Musk also mentioned that he was not informed about the sterilizing effects of puberty blockers, asserting that these medical interventions were misrepresented to him.
His remarks come shortly after his announcement that X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas, in part due to California’s SAFETY Act, legislation aimed at protecting transgender students. Musk has faced accusations of transphobic behavior and rhetoric in the past.
In 2022, Wilson legally changed her name and sought a new birth certificate, indicating her desire to sever ties with her father. According to a biography by Walter Isaacson, Musk attributed the rift in their relationship to the progressive environment of her school in Los Angeles. Over the past few years, Musk has shifted from his previously moderate political views to embrace more conservative ideologies, endorsing the Republican party and its leaders who oppose clean energy initiatives.