Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial comments regarding his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk stated that his daughter was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, and he expressed a desire to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
This interview uncovered Musk’s critical views on gender reassignment surgery, which he referred to as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He recounted that his daughter came out as transgender at the age of 16 during the pandemic, and he felt misled when he signed documents related to her care. Musk noted that at that time, he was faced with the fear that his child might commit suicide.
Musk expressed his belief that such medical interventions are being done to children who are not yet of consent age and agreed with Peterson that those who promote these practices should be imprisoned. He also stated that he was not made aware that puberty blockers are “essentially sterilization drugs,” clarifying that they do not directly affect fertility.
He described his feelings of loss regarding his son, whom he believes is now “dead” due to the changes in identity. Musk’s comments come in the context of his companies, including X and SpaceX, relocating to Texas partly in response to California’s AB1955 or the SAFETY Act, which impacts parental notification regarding transgender identification in schools. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans narratives in recent years.
Vivian Jenna Wilson applied for a name change in 2022, stating she no longer wishes to be associated with her biological father. Musk has attributed their estranged relationship to her educational environment. As Musk’s public persona has shifted toward right-wing ideologies, he has endorsed Republican candidates, indicating a significant political transformation from his previously center-left stance.