Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently expressed his distress over his transgender daughter’s transition, claiming she was “killed” following gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk stated that the care she received during the pandemic led to significant confusion and distress for him and his family.
Musk referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization” and revealed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16. He mentioned feeling misled when he signed documents related to her transition, saying that he was told she might be suicidal at the time, which added to his confusion during the pandemic.
He criticized the medical process, asserting that it targets children who are not of legal consent age. Musk agreed with Peterson, labeling the support for such procedures as “incredibly evil” and suggested that those promoting it should face imprisonment. Musk, who has fathered 12 children, claimed he was not properly informed that puberty blockers could lead to sterilization.
“I was tricked into doing this,” he lamented. “I lost my son, essentially.” He referred to the term “deadnaming,” arguing that it highlights the pain of losing a child to such a transition.
These comments emerged shortly after Musk announced that his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas, expressing opposition to California’s AB1955 legislation. This law prohibits schools from informing parents if their child identifies as transgender and mandates state support for LGBTQ+ youth.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a name change and requested a new birth certificate, stating in court filings that she wished to completely separate herself from her father. Musk attributed their strained relationship to her progressive schooling in Los Angeles, as discussed in Walter Isaacson’s biography.
Musk, who previously held more moderate political views, has increasingly adopted right-wing rhetoric on various social issues, including diversity and immigration. He also endorsed the Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump, earlier this month.