Tesla CEO Elon Musk has made controversial statements regarding his transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, claiming that she was “killed” following her gender-affirming care. During an interview with psychologist Jordan Peterson, Musk expressed his intention to combat what he termed the “woke mind virus,” and referred to gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk revealed that Wilson, who publicly came out as transgender at age 16, received gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He expressed regret, stating he felt “tricked” into agreeing to medical documents regarding his child’s transition, mentioning he was concerned for Wilson’s mental health due to suicidal thoughts he was led to believe she had.
He criticized the practice of providing such care to minors, stating agreement with Peterson that it is “incredibly evil,” and suggested that promoters of these medical interventions should face imprisonment. Musk also claimed he was not properly informed that puberty blockers function as sterilization medications, despite current understanding which indicates they do not lead to infertility on their own.
Musk has publicly taken a strong stance against California’s AB1955, or the SAFETY Act, which limits parental notification regarding transgender identification in schools. His remarks follow a recent announcement that his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas, reflecting his discontent with California’s policies.
In 2022, Wilson sought a name change and a new birth certificate, expressing a desire to sever ties with her father. Musk attributes the estrangement to his daughter’s progressive education in Los Angeles, claiming it has influenced her views and contributed to their fractured relationship. Over the past few years, Musk has shifted towards more right-wing views, moving away from his previous center-left politics and endorsing the Republican party’s recent ticket.