Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently expressed strong views about his transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, claiming that she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk vowed to “destroy the woke mind virus,” labeling gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk revealed that Wilson came out as transgender at the age of 16 after receiving care during the pandemic. He shared that he felt misled into signing documents regarding her treatment due to concerns about her mental health at the time. “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” he stated, noting that confusion during the COVID crisis played a role in his decisions.
Musk criticized the process of providing gender-affirming care to children, arguing that it is done to individuals who are too young to give consent. He echoed Peterson’s sentiment that promoting such treatments is “incredibly evil” and suggested that those advocating for it should face imprisonment. He claimed he was never informed that puberty blockers could lead to sterilization, even though those drugs alone do not inherently affect fertility.
In expressing his grievances, Musk lamented, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially.” He referred to the practice of “deadnaming,” stating that it signifies the death of his son’s identity.
His comments follow a recent announcement that X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas due to legislative changes in California. Specifically, the AB1955 SAFETY Act prohibits schools from imposing rules that require parents to be notified if their child identifies as transgender and mandates state resources for supporting LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has previously faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans messaging.
In 2022, Wilson legally changed her name and requested a new birth certificate, stating that she no longer wishes to be associated with her biological father. Musk has attributed their strained relationship to the influence of her progressive school in Los Angeles, as outlined in Walter Isaacson’s biography, indicating that his contentious sentiments towards “woke” culture stem from this familial rift.
Over recent years, Musk has shifted from his center-left political roots to align more closely with right-wing ideologies on topics such as diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Earlier this month, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket, which includes former President Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, both known for their support of traditional energy policies and opposition to clean energy initiatives.