Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently expressed his controversial views on gender-affirming care and his estranged transgender daughter during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. He claimed that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, leading him to vow to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk described gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” criticizing the care Wilson received during the pandemic at the age of 16. He recounted feeling misled into signing documents regarding his child’s transition, mentioning concerns about suicide at the time.
During the discussion, Musk remarked that such procedures are performed on minors who cannot give consent and echoed Peterson’s assertion that it is “incredibly evil” to promote these practices, suggesting that advocates should face imprisonment. He claimed he was unaware that puberty blockers were essentially sterilization drugs, despite research showing they do not directly affect fertility.
Musk’s comments follow his announcement that he would relocate X and SpaceX to Texas due to California’s AB1955 SAFETY Act, which restricts schools from notifying parents if their child identifies as transgender and mandates state support for LGBTQ+ youth. He has faced accusations of transphobia in the past.
In 2022, Wilson applied for a name change and a new birth certificate, stating she wished to sever ties with her biological father. Musk attributes the strained relationship to her progressive school in Los Angeles, as detailed in Walter Isaacson’s biography. This estrangement is suggested to fuel Musk’s “anti-woke sentiments.”
Over the past few years, Musk has shifted away from his previously center-left political stance, increasingly adopting right-wing rhetoric on various issues, including diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential candidates, former president Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both known for their support of the oil industry and opposition to clean energy initiatives.