Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial statements regarding his estranged transgender daughter, suggesting that she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. In an interview with psychologist and commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his strong opposition to gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk’s daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. Musk mentioned his feelings of being misled into allowing this care, stating that he was under pressure due to concerns over his child’s mental health. He described his experience of agreeing to the transition process without fully understanding the implications at the time.
He voiced his belief that the process is applied to minors who are not of consensual age, agreeing with Peterson’s assertion that the promotion of such medical interventions for children is “incredibly evil,” and suggested that individuals advocating for these practices should face imprisonment. Musk also claimed he was unaware that puberty blockers could be classified as sterilization drugs, despite the fact that they do not, in isolation, affect fertility.
Musk’s remarks follow his decision to relocate X and SpaceX to Texas, citing California’s legislation which prohibits schools from notifying parents if their child identifies as transgender and mandates the state to offer resources for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia in the past.
In 2022, Wilson sought a legal name change, expressing a desire to no longer be associated with her father. Musk attributed the rift in their relationship to the influence of her progressive school in Los Angeles. According to a biography by Walter Isaacson, this estrangement has contributed to Musk’s “anti-woke” sentiments.
In recent years, Musk’s political views have shifted from center-left to align more closely with right-wing ideologies, including support for former President Donald Trump and policies favoring the oil industry.