Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently expressed distress over his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, claiming she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk denounced gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” expressing his commitment to combat what he termed the “woke mind virus.”
Musk’s comments surfaced as he discussed his daughter’s transition, which she began during the pandemic at the age of 16. He mentioned feeling misled into consenting to her medical decisions, citing concerns for her mental health at the time. “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” he stated, identifying Wilson, who no longer uses his surname. He noted the confusion surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to his misunderstanding of the situation.
The CEO criticized the medical interventions undertaken for young individuals, asserting that they occur “far below the age of consent” and echoed Peterson’s sentiment that promoting such practices is “incredibly evil” deserving of imprisonment. Musk, who has a total of 12 children, claimed he was never informed that puberty blockers act as sterilization drugs, although he admitted that using them does not inherently impact fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk said, expressing sorrow over what he perceived as losing his son. He explained that the term “deadnaming” illustrates a deeper loss, suggesting a transformative change in identity.
These remarks come on the heels of Musk’s announcement that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas to escape California’s SAFETY Act, which prohibits schools from mandating parental notification when a student identifies as transgender and supports resources for LGBTQ+ children. Musk has previously faced allegations of transphobia and has been criticized for his anti-trans messages.
In 2022, Wilson sought a name change and a new birth certificate, stating in court documents that she wishes to sever ties with her biological father entirely. Musk has attributed the deterioration of his relationship with Wilson to her progressive education in Los Angeles, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography of him. According to Isaacson, Musk’s estrangement from his daughter has fueled his anti-woke rhetoric.
In recent years, Musk has shifted from his previously center-left political stance to adopt right-wing viewpoints, tackling issues such as diversity initiatives, election integrity, and immigration. Earlier this month, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom are advocates for the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.