Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made controversial remarks regarding his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his commitment to combating what he refers to as the “woke mind virus.”
Musk, who oversees multiple companies including X, criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He recounted that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at the age of 16, underwent gender-affirming treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Musk accused himself of being “tricked” into consenting to documents concerning his child, expressing confusion and worry about her mental health at the time.
He claimed that the procedures are performed on minors who are “far below the age of consent” and aligned with Peterson’s assertion that promoting such practices is “incredibly evil,” suggesting that advocates for this treatment should face imprisonment. Musk remarked that he was not made aware that puberty blockers function as sterilization drugs, emphasizing that he felt deceived by the process.
Musk articulated his feelings of loss regarding his son’s former identity, stating, “They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead.”
These comments emerged shortly after Musk announced plans for X and SpaceX to relocate to Texas, in response to California’s AB1955, also known as the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from requiring parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and mandates state support for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations of transphobia and promoting anti-trans narratives in the past.
In a court filing in 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a name change and a new birth certificate, indicating she wished to dissociate from her biological father entirely. Musk has previously suggested that their strained relationship stems from her attendance at a progressive school in Los Angeles, and biographer Walter Isaacson noted that this estrangement influences Musk’s anti-woke perspectives.
Musk’s political views have shifted notably in recent years, moving from centrist to more right-wing stances, including his support for former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for the oil industry and opposed clean energy initiatives.