Tesla CEO Elon Musk stated during an interview that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, leading him to voice a commitment to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk made these remarks in his conversation with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, aired on Monday. He described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization” and mentioned that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at the age of 16 after receiving care during the pandemic.
He expressed feeling misled about signing documents regarding his child’s transition, saying, “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys.” He shared that he was concerned for Wilson’s mental health and that the confusion around COVID contributed to his decisions at the time.
Musk criticized the process of allowing children who are below the age of consent to undergo such treatments, agreeing with Peterson’s assertion that promoting these options for minors is “incredibly evil,” advocating for imprisonment for those who do. He suggested that he was unaware that puberty blockers were essentially sterilization drugs, although the use of puberty blockers alone does not directly cause infertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk claimed. “I lost my son, essentially. They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
These comments followed Musk’s announcement that his companies X and SpaceX would relocate to Texas, joining Tesla, as a response to California’s AB1955, known as the SAFETY Act. This legislation prevents schools from requiring notification to parents if their child identifies as transgender and mandates that the State Department provide resources for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced criticism for what some perceive as anti-trans messaging in the past.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter legally changed her name and sought a new birth certificate, expressing in court filings her desire to no longer be associated with her biological father. Musk has previously attributed the estrangement from Wilson to her progressive schooling in Los Angeles, which he believes has influenced her views against him.
In recent years, Musk has increasingly embraced right-wing rhetoric, shifting his political stance and voicing support for the Republican party, including endorsements for figures like former President Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance.