Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made controversial remarks regarding his estranged transgender daughter, stating that she was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his commitment to combat what he described as the “woke mind virus,” criticizing gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk’s daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, underwent gender-affirming treatment during the pandemic and publicly identified as transgender at 16. He revealed that he felt misled into approving documents related to her care, claiming he was concerned for her mental health amid chaotic circumstances caused by COVID-19.
He argued that such procedures are being performed on minors who are not yet of legal consent and echoed Peterson’s view that promoting these practices is “incredibly evil,” suggesting that those who do so should face imprisonment. Musk asserted that he was never informed that puberty blockers could lead to sterilization, despite evidence that these medications do not directly impact fertility.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk lamented, referring to the loss of his son, stating that the concept of ‘deadnaming’ reflects the death of his son’s former identity.
These remarks come shortly after Musk announced that his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, would be relocating to Texas, influenced by California’s AB1955, known as the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from enforcing rules that require parental notification when a child identifies as transgender and mandates state support for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced allegations of transphobia due to his comments and actions surrounding the topic.
In 2022, Wilson sought a legal name change, stating she no longer wishes to have any connection to her biological father. Musk has attributed their strained relationship to her educational environment in Los Angeles, as noted in Walter Isaacson’s biography of him.
Musk, who has shifted from his previously center-left political stance, has increasingly embraced right-wing ideologies on a variety of issues, including diversity initiatives and electoral matters. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, both of whom advocate for the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.