Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial statements regarding his estranged transgender daughter, claiming that she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his intention to combat what he termed the “woke mind virus,” which he believes is responsible for these issues.
Musk referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He discussed his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at 16 and received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. Musk claimed he was misled into signing documents regarding her care and expressed that he was concerned for her well-being, as he had been informed that she might be at risk of suicide.
During the discussion, Musk criticized the provision of such medical treatment to minors, stating it was done to children who are not of the legal age of consent. He expressed agreement with Peterson’s assertion that promoting these treatments is “incredibly evil” and suggested that those who support such measures should face imprisonment. Musk, a father of 12, noted that he was not fully informed that puberty blockers could be considered sterilization drugs, although it is stated that they do not affect fertility directly.
Musk’s comments surfaced shortly after he announced plans for X and SpaceX to relocate to Texas, citing dissatisfaction with California’s laws protecting transgender youth. Recently, he has faced accusations of promoting anti-trans rhetoric.
His daughter took steps to legally change her name and had expressed a desire to sever ties with Musk in 2022, stating that she no longer wished to be connected to her biological father. Musk has linked the deterioration of their relationship to her education in a progressive school, and his estrangement from Wilson is viewed by some as influencing his shift towards increasingly right-wing viewpoints in public discussions on various topics, including diversity initiatives and immigration policies.