Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently expressed his deep concerns regarding gender-affirming care during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. During the broadcast, Musk claimed that his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, was “killed” after undergoing such treatment and declared his intention to combat what he referred to as the “woke mind virus.”
Musk criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization,” and described the emotional turmoil he faced when Vivian came out as transgender at the age of 16 while receiving gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He mentioned feeling misled when he signed documents concerning her care, saying he was unaware of the implications and was worried about her mental health.
He elaborated that children are subjected to these decisions before reaching the age of consent and reiterated his belief, echoing Peterson’s sentiments, that promoting such practices is “incredibly evil” and should carry severe consequences. Musk, a father of twelve, expressed frustration over not being adequately informed that puberty blockers could lead to sterilization, despite being told they were temporary measures.
Musk lamented the loss of his son due to his daughter’s transition, highlighting the painfulness of “deadnaming,” a term used in the transgender community to describe referring to someone by their former name.
These remarks come shortly after Musk announced that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas, in response to California’s new legislation, the SAFETY Act, which limits schools from notifying parents if their child identifies as transgender. This move follows Musk’s history of promoting anti-trans messaging, a trend noted in several public statements.
In 2022, Wilson sought a name change and a new birth certificate, expressing her desire to distance herself from her father entirely. Musk has attributed their strained relationship to Wilson’s progressive education in Los Angeles, which he believes has influenced her views and led to his anti-woke rhetoric. Over recent years, Musk’s political stance has shifted from center-left to embracing right-wing viewpoints, particularly regarding issues like diversity and clean energy.