Tesla CEO Elon Musk expressed his belief that his estranged transgender daughter was “killed” after receiving gender-affirming care, which led him to pledge to combat what he calls the “woke mind virus.”
During an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson, which aired on Monday, Musk referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.” He shared that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, underwent gender-affirming care during the pandemic and came out as transgender at the age of 16.
Musk claimed that he was misled into signing documents regarding his daughter’s care. He stated, “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys,” in reference to Wilson, who has distanced herself from Musk by changing her last name. He mentioned that this happened amidst the confusion of the COVID pandemic, during which he was told that his child might contemplate suicide.
He asserted that the gender-affirming process is applied to children who are below the legal age of consent, aligning with Peterson’s view that it is “incredibly evil,” suggesting that those promoting such practices should face imprisonment. Although Musk has a total of 12 children and often discusses issues related to fertility and underpopulation, he claimed that the role of puberty blockers was not adequately explained to him, describing them as “sterilization drugs.” It’s noted that puberty blockers do not directly impact fertility on their own.
“I was tricked into doing this,” Musk said. “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 statements followed a recent announcement that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate from California to Texas, a decision influenced by California’s AB1955, known as the SAFETY Act. This legislation prohibits schools from enforcing rules that require parental notification if a child identifies as transgender and mandates state support for LGBTQ+ youth. Musk has faced accusations in the past related to transphobia and the promotion of anti-trans narratives.
In 2022, Musk’s daughter sought a name change and a new birth certificate, stating in court filings that she no longer wishes to be “related to my biological father in any way, shape or form.” Musk has attributed their strained relationship to the progressive education his daughter received in Los Angeles, as highlighted in Walter Isaacson’s biography on him. The author indicates that this estrangement contributes to Musk’s “anti-woke” rhetoric.
Once recognized for his center-left stance, Musk has increasingly adopted right-wing viewpoints on various topics, including diversity initiatives and immigration. Recently, he endorsed the Republican presidential ticket, which includes former President Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom support the oil industry and oppose clean energy initiatives.