Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after undergoing gender-affirming care, prompting him to express a desire to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk made these statements during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, which aired on Monday. He criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” Musk’s daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at age 16 and received gender-affirming care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Musk stated that he felt misled when he signed documents related to his child’s transition, mentioning that he was informed it was necessary to prevent his child from potentially committing suicide. Wilson has since stopped using Musk’s surname.
The CEO expressed his belief that the medical procedures are conducted on minors who lack the capacity to give informed consent, aligning with Peterson’s view that promoting such care is “incredibly evil.” Musk argued that he did not fully understand what puberty blockers entailed, claiming they were never explained to him as sterilization drugs. However, it is noted that puberty blockers alone do not affect fertility.
He lamented, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially,” and referred to the term “deadnaming,” asserting that it reflects the loss of his son.
These comments follow Musk’s announcement that X and SpaceX would be relocating to Texas due to California’s AB1955, also known as the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from enforcing rules that require parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and mandates state resources to support LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced numerous accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans narratives.
In 2022, Wilson sought a legal name change and a new birth certificate, declaring her desire to no longer be associated with Musk. According to Walter Isaacson’s biography, Musk attributes the rift in their relationship to Wilson’s progressive schooling in Los Angeles, suggesting that this dynamic contributes to his “anti-woke sentiments.”
Musk, who previously identified with center-left politics, has increasingly adopted right-wing stances on issues ranging from diversity initiatives to election integrity. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket featuring former president Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both advocates for the oil industry and critics of clean energy initiatives.