Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial comments regarding his estranged transgender daughter, attributing her struggles to gender-affirming care and vowing to combat what he refers to as the “woke mind virus.” Musk shared his views during an interview with psychologist Jordan Peterson, where he described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk’s daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, began identifying as transgender at age 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. Musk claimed he was misled into consenting to treatment for Wilson before fully understanding the implications, which he said was compounded by the confusion of the COVID-19 pandemic. He expressed his belief that gender-altering procedures are conducted on minors who are not yet able to give informed consent, aligning with Peterson’s sentiment that such practices are “incredibly evil” and should be punishable by imprisonment.
During the discussion, Musk asserted that he was unaware that puberty blockers, which are often prescribed to trans youth, could have permanent effects. He expressed that he feels he has “lost” his son, stating that the term “deadnaming” signifies the death of his relationship with his child.
Musk’s remarks surfaced shortly after he announced that several businesses, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas, citing California’s SAFETY Act, which limits the ability of schools to inform parents about their child’s transgender identification. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia in the past, and his daughter filed for a name change in 2022, indicating her desire to dissociate from him completely.
In recent years, Musk, who was previously known for centrist political views, has shifted towards more right-wing positions on various issues, including diversity policies and immigration matters. He recently endorsed a Republican presidential ticket that includes former President Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom have positions that favor traditional energy sources over clean energy initiatives.