Tesla CEO Elon Musk claimed that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after undergoing gender-affirming care, which prompted him to pledge to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
In a recent interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed strong opposition to gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He mentioned that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, received gender-affirming care during the pandemic and publicly came out as transgender at the age of 16.
Musk stated, “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” referring to Wilson, who no longer uses his surname. He noted that he felt misled during a time of confusion caused by the pandemic, particularly about concerns for his child’s well-being.
Musk criticized medical practices aimed at children, who he believes are below the age of consent, and aligned himself with Peterson’s view that such practices are “incredibly evil,” suggesting that those who advocate for them should face imprisonment. He claimed he was not adequately informed that puberty blockers, which he described as “sterilization drugs,” could be part of this process. However, it is important to note that puberty blockers do not inherently affect fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk declared. “I lost my son, essentially. They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
Musk’s comments come shortly after he announced that his companies X and SpaceX would join Tesla in relocating to Texas due to California’s SAFETY Act, which prohibits schools from requiring parental notification when a child identifies as transgender and mandates resources for LGBTQ+ children. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia in the past.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a name change and a new birth certificate, stating in court that she no longer wishes to have any connection to her biological father. Musk has suggested that her changing views stem from her progressive education in Los Angeles, a sentiment echoed in Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk.
Recently, Musk has shifted from his previously moderate political stance to adopt right-wing viewpoints on various issues, including diversity, election integrity, and immigration. Earlier this month, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for traditional energy sources and oppose clean energy initiatives.