Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently expressed his grief regarding his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, suggesting that she was “killed” after undergoing gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk condemned gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He revealed that his daughter came out as transgender at the age of 16 and received such care during the pandemic.
Musk stated that he felt misled into signing documents regarding his child’s care, emphasizing that he was informed there was a possibility of suicide. He remarked on the seriousness of the procedures being performed on minors who are not yet of legal consent age, agreeing with Peterson that it is “incredibly evil” and advocating for imprisonment for those who promote these practices. Additionally, Musk claimed he was unaware that puberty blockers could lead to sterilization, although these blockers do not directly affect fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk remarked, mourning the perceived loss of his son and referring to the term “deadnaming” to signify this loss. His remarks came just a week after announcing that his companies, X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas in response to California’s SAFETY Act, which prevents schools from requiring parental notification if a child identifies as transgender.
In court documents filed in 2022, Wilson expressed a desire to change her name and birth certificate, stating that she no longer wishes to be connected to Musk in any way. Musk’s estrangement from his daughter has contributed to his growing “anti-woke” sentiments, as noted by biographer Walter Isaacson.
In recent years, Musk has shifted from a position of center-left politics to embracing a range of right-wing viewpoints, covering topics such as diversity initiatives, election fraud, and immigration. Earlier this month, he publicly supported the Republican presidential ticket, which includes former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.