Tesla CEO Elon Musk made controversial statements regarding his estranged transgender daughter, claiming she was “killed” by the gender-affirming care she received. He expressed his intention to “destroy the woke mind virus” during an interview with psychologist and conservative commentator Jordan Peterson.
Musk’s remarks came as he criticized gender-reassignment surgery, labeling it “child mutilation and sterilization.” He mentioned that his daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, who identified as transgender at 16, received gender-affirming care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Musk revealed that he felt pressured to give consent for the treatment, claiming he was misinformed about its implications and that he was told his child might attempt suicide.
He shared his belief that such medical procedures are performed on children who are below the legal age for consent and aligned himself with Peterson’s view that these practices are “incredibly evil,” suggesting that those who advocate for them should face imprisonment. Musk, a father of 12, also stated he was never informed that puberty blockers are essentially sterilization drugs, clarifying that they do not impact fertility on their own.
Describing his experience as feeling tricked, Musk said, “I lost my son, essentially,” referring to the concept of “deadnaming,” which he argued signifies that his son no longer exists. His comments surfaced shortly after he announced his companies, including X and SpaceX, would relocate to Texas in opposition to California’s AB1955, which limits parental notifications on transgender identification in schools and supports resources for LGBTQ+ youth.
Musk’s daughter filed for a name change in 2022 and expressed a desire to sever ties with her father. According to Walter Isaacson’s biography of Musk, the strained relationship with Wilson is a factor behind his anti-woke rhetoric. In recent years, Musk has shifted from center-left politics to adopting right-wing viewpoints, aligning himself with figures like former President Donald Trump and Senator J.D. Vance, both of whom promote pro-oil policies and oppose clean energy initiatives.