Tesla CEO Elon Musk made controversial remarks about his transgender daughter, stating that she was “killed” by receiving gender-affirming care. He expressed a strong opposition to what he termed the “woke mind virus” during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson. Musk characterized gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” and discussed his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who came out as transgender at 16 and underwent gender-affirming care during the pandemic.
Musk alleged that he felt misled into signing documents regarding his daughter’s gender transition when he was unaware of the situation’s details, as the pandemic created a chaotic environment. He referred to concerns about her potential suicide as a driving factor in the decision. He stated that he believes the procedure is performed on children who are not of consent age and echoed Peterson’s sentiment that promoting these practices is “incredibly evil,” suggesting that those who support them should face imprisonment.
He described the emotional impact of his daughter’s transition, referring to the practice of “deadnaming” and stating, “I lost my son, essentially.” Musk emphasized feeling deceived, arguing he was not informed that puberty blockers could lead to sterilization, although it’s noted that puberty blockers alone do not directly affect fertility.
Musk’s comments followed his announcement that several of his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate from California to Texas, a decision influenced by his opposition to California’s AB1955, which restricts parental notification in schools regarding a child’s transgender identity. He has faced accusations of transphobia in the past, and his daughter legally changed her name and sought a new birth certificate in 2022 to distance herself from him.
The strained relationship with his daughter, attributed in part to her education in a progressive environment, has been linked to Musk’s growing anti-woke rhetoric. Over recent years, Musk has shifted towards right-wing viewpoints, voicing support for former President Donald Trump and other Republican figures associated with the oil industry and opposing clean energy initiatives.