Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently made controversial remarks about 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 desire to “destroy the woke mind virus.”
Musk labeled gender-reassignment surgery as “child mutilation and sterilization,” sharing that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, came out as transgender at age 16 and underwent gender-affirming care during the pandemic. He stated that he felt misled when he signed documents for his daughter, who now goes by a different name, and referred to the situation as confusing due to the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
He criticized the procedures for minors, agreeing with Peterson that it is “incredibly evil” and suggested that those who promote such practices should face incarceration. Musk, a father of 12, asserted that he was not properly informed about puberty blockers, which he erroneously described as “sterilization drugs,” despite their independent effects on fertility.
Musk lamented the loss of his son in this situation, describing “deadnaming” as a term that underscores his loss. These comments emerged shortly after Musk announced the relocation of his companies, including X and SpaceX, to Texas, in response to California’s AB1955, legislation that restricts school notifications concerning transgender identification to parents and mandates state support for LGBTQ+ youth.
His daughter sought a name change and a new birth certificate in 2022 and expressed a desire to dissociate from Musk completely. In Walter Isaacson’s biography, Musk attributes the strained relationship with his daughter to the progressive environment of her school in Los Angeles, suggesting this disconnect has fueled his “anti-woke sentiments.”
Musk, who was once seen as a centrist, has shifted towards right-wing ideologies in recent years, touching on topics such as diversity initiatives, election integrity, and immigration. Recently, he endorsed a presidential ticket featuring former president Donald Trump and Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom support fossil fuel industries and oppose clean energy initiatives.