Tesla CEO Elon Musk commented during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson that he feels his estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, was “killed” after she received gender-affirming care. He expressed a commitment to combat what he describes as the “woke mind virus.”
Musk, who heads multiple companies including X, condemned gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He mentioned that his daughter came out as transgender at 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
He claimed he was misled into signing documents concerning his child, asserting this occurred under confusing circumstances during COVID. Musk expressed concern that he was told his daughter might be at risk of suicide at that time.
He criticized medical practices involving minors, stating that children who are not of legal consent age undergo these procedures and agreed with Peterson’s assertion that it is “incredibly evil,” suggesting that those who promote it should face prison.
Musk, who has a total of 12 children and has discussed topics related to fertility and population decline, claimed he was not informed that puberty blockers are essentially sterilization drugs. However, it’s important to note that puberty blockers, by themselves, do not affect fertility.
Musk expressed a sense of loss regarding his relationship with his daughter, saying, “I was tricked into doing this. I lost my son, essentially.” He cited “deadnaming” as a term that reflects the grief he feels over his child’s transition.
These comments from Musk come shortly after he announced plans for his companies, including X and SpaceX, to relocate to Texas, in response to California’s AB1955, known as the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from requiring parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and mandates that the State Department provide resources to support LGBTQ+ identifying children. Musk has faced accusations of promoting anti-trans messaging in the past.
Vivian Jenna Wilson applied for a name change and a new birth certificate in 2022, stating in court filings that she no longer wishes to be associated with her biological father. According to Walter Isaacson’s biography, Musk attributes the estrangement to his daughter’s progressive education background in Los Angeles, linking it to his emergence of “anti-woke sentiments.”
In recent years, Musk has shifted his political stance from center-left to increasingly adopting right-wing perspectives on various issues, including diversity initiatives and immigration. Earlier this month, he endorsed the Republican party’s presidential candidates, including former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom support the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.