Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made headlines with remarks regarding his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, claiming she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. He expressed a commitment to combat what he calls the “woke mind virus” during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson.
Musk described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” stating that Wilson came out as transgender at the age of 16 and underwent gender-affirming treatments during the pandemic. He shared his feelings of being misled into supporting the transition, citing concerns that his child might commit suicide.
He criticized the procedures for minors, agreeing with Peterson’s assertion that they are “incredibly evil” and suggested that those who promote such actions should face imprisonment. Musk, who has 12 children, claimed that accurate information about puberty blockers being essentially sterilization drugs was never conveyed to him.
Reflecting on his relationship with Wilson, Musk stated, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” referring to the process of “deadnaming” in transgender discussions. His remarks occur just after he announced that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas in response to California’s SAFETY Act, which pertains to the treatment of transgender minors in schools.
Musk’s daughter applied for a name change in 2022, expressing her desire to no longer be associated with her father. According to a biography by Walter Isaacson, Musk attributes the estrangement to progressive influences at her Los Angeles school, linking it to his growing “anti-woke” sentiments.
In recent years, Musk has shifted from a center-left political stance to align more closely with right-wing rhetoric on various issues, including diversity and immigration. He has recently endorsed the Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for the fossil fuel industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.