‘My Son is Dead’: Elon Musk Opens Up About His Transgender Child
In an emotionally charged conversation, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, revealed his profound personal struggles with his child’s transition. Speaking with psychologist Jordan Peterson on X, Musk expressed his feelings of betrayal and sorrow, sharing that he was “tricked” into consenting to puberty blockers for his child, Xavier, who now identifies as transgender and goes by the name Vivian Jenna Wilson.
Elon Musk just deadnamed his own trans daughter to hundreds of millions.
— Erin Reed (@ErinInTheMorn) July 22, 2024
He is exactly the kind of father so many trans people have had to run away from, hide from, stay closeted because of.
He should be ashamed if he were human enough to feel shame. pic.twitter.com/y7IA7nVa9l
The dialogue unfolded against the backdrop of recent political developments in California. Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1955 into law on July 15, 2024, enabling schools to keep a child’s sexual orientation or gender identity confidential from their parents. In response, Musk announced plans to relocate the headquarters of SpaceX and X from California to Texas, citing the state’s legislative climate as detrimental to both families and businesses.
Musk’s revelations during the interview were deeply personal. He described the tumultuous period during which he consented to the treatment. “It’s evil. You’re taking kids who are far below the age of consent,” Musk stated, reflecting on his regret and sense of manipulation. “It’s very possible for adults to manipulate children who are having an actual identity crisis into believing that they are the wrong gender.”
Musk recounted the confusion and pressure he faced amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He explained how he was persuaded to sign the necessary documents by the fear that his child might commit suicide. “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys, Xavier,” he revealed. “This was really before I had any understanding of what was going on… And I was told Xavier might commit suicide.”
The Controversy of Puberty Blockers
Musk’s anguish extended to the medical treatments involved. He expressed outrage over the use of puberty blockers, stating, “It wasn’t explained to me that puberty blockers are actually just sterilization drugs.” He further commented, “I lost my son, essentially. They call it ‘deadnaming’ for a reason. The reason they call it ‘deadnaming’ is because your son is dead, so my son, Xavier, is dead, killed by the woke mind virus.”
This sentiment is echoed in a recent preprint study by the Mayo Clinic, which links puberty blockers to irreversible long-term fertility issues in boys, contradicting earlier claims about the reversibility of these effects.
A Daughter’s Declaration
Vivian Musk, formerly Xavier, made her transgender identity public in June 2022 at the age of 18. Alongside her transition, she legally changed her name and adopted her mother’s surname. In her petition, Vivian expressed her desire to sever ties with Musk, stating, “I no longer want to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form.”
The personal anguish has galvanized Musk into action against what he terms the “woke mind virus.” He is determined to combat the ideologies he believes led to his family’s heartache. “I vowed to destroy the woke mind virus after that. And we’re making some progress,” he declared.
Elon Musk says his child transitioning means they’re “dead” to him. “Killed by the woke mind virus.”
— Ben Goggin (@BenjaminGoggin) July 22, 2024
This is every LGBT person’s nightmare reaction from their parents to them coming out.
pic.twitter.com/vsAnepkAJA
In a decisive move, Musk announced the relocation of SpaceX and X headquarters to Texas, citing the new California law as the “final straw.” “Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas,” Musk wrote on X.
Elon Musk’s deeply personal narrative highlights the complex and often painful intersections of family, identity, and societal change. His story is a poignant reminder of the human element behind public figures and the profound impact of legislation and medical decisions on individual lives. As Musk navigates these challenging waters, his experiences shed light on the broader cultural and political debates surrounding transgender rights and parental consent.