Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed controversial views regarding his transgender daughter during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk described his daughter’s transition and the gender-affirming care she received as leading to a loss he referred to as her being “killed.” He vowed to fight against what he calls the “woke mind virus.”
In the interview, Musk criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He recounted how his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, began her transition during the pandemic at the age of 16. Musk revealed that he felt misled into giving consent for her medical decisions, claiming he was informed that she might consider suicide if he did not.
Musk articulated his belief that medical interventions for minors are wrong, agreeing with Peterson that such practices are “incredibly evil” and suggesting that advocates of such procedures should face imprisonment. He expressed regret over his lack of understanding, claiming he was not informed that puberty blockers could lead to sterility, although it’s noted that these drugs do not directly affect fertility.
Musk further lamented what he termed as the “loss” of his son, referring to his daughter’s chosen name change, which he said signifies the death of their past relationship. The billionaire’s remarks come shortly after announcing moves of his businesses from California to Texas in response to legislation that alters parental notification requirements regarding transgender identification in schools.
Musk’s relationship with Wilson has been strained, with her seeking to legally dissociate from him, citing a desire to no longer be connected to her biological father. In various accounts, Musk has attributed the deterioration of their relationship to her education in a progressive environment.
In recent years, Musk’s political stance has shifted from center-left to increasingly aligning with right-wing perspectives on a range of issues, and he recently endorsed the Republican presidential ticket featuring Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance.