Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial remarks regarding his transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, claiming that her decision to receive gender-affirming care led to her being “killed” in a metaphorical sense. During an interview with conservative psychologist Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his determination to combat what he termed the “woke mind virus.”
Musk characterized gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” and stated that his daughter began her transition during the pandemic when she was 16. He mentioned feeling deceived into signing documents concerning her care, stating that the urgency was heightened by concerns for her mental well-being during a tumultuous time.
Musk criticized the medical procedures involved, arguing that they are performed on minors who are below the age of consent, and echoed Peterson’s sentiment that promoting such treatments is “incredibly evil.” He claimed that he was not adequately informed about the implications of puberty blockers, describing them as “sterilization drugs.” However, it should be noted that puberty blockers do not inherently impact fertility.
He expressed a sense of loss regarding his relationship with his daughter, using the term “deadnaming” to highlight his grief over her transition. Musk’s comments came shortly after he announced that several of his companies, including X and SpaceX, would be relocating to Texas, partly due to concerns over California’s legislation regarding transgender rights in schools.
Wilson, who has distanced herself from her father, sought a name change and new birth certificate last year, expressing her desire to sever ties with him. Musk has attributed their estrangement to her progressive education in Los Angeles, a theme echoed in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk.
In recent years, Musk has shifted from his previous center-left political views toward embracing more right-wing perspectives, notably criticizing diversity initiatives and endorsing members of the Republican party.