A fierce public dispute has erupted between Elon Musk and California Governor Gavin Newsom, centering on Musk’s relationship with his transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson. The conflict ignited after Musk’s political action committee shared a clip of Newsom discussing his record on transgender legislation, a topic where the governor has often diverged from his party.
Newsom, during a podcast interview, had expressed concerns about fairness in women’s sports, stating it was “deeply unfair” to include transgender athletes. This statement became the focal point of the escalating exchange, prompting a sharp response from the governor’s press office.
The governor’s team didn’t address the policy points raised in the clip; instead, they directly attacked Musk personally on his own social media platform, X. Their message was blunt: “We’re sorry your daughter hates you, Elon.”
Musk’s reply was immediate and scathing. He vehemently rejected the use of the term “daughter” when referring to Wilson, instead identifying her as his son, Xavier, and attributing any distress to what he termed a “woke mind virus.” He insisted his other daughters, Azure, Exa, and Arcadia, maintain a loving relationship with him.
Further solidifying his position, Musk pinned a controversial statement to his X profile: “If you have a womb, you are a woman. Otherwise, you are not.” This declaration underscored the deeply personal nature of the conflict and his firm stance on gender identity.
The roots of Musk’s pain run deeper than a political disagreement. In a recent interview, he revealed he felt “tricked” into consenting to puberty blockers for Xavier before fully understanding the implications. The timing, during the height of COVID-related anxieties, added to his sense of confusion and vulnerability.
Musk described a devastating loss, stating he felt he had “lost his son.” He explained the term “deadnaming” – using a transgender person’s birth name – resonated with him because it felt like a symbolic death. He believes this outcome was a direct result of the ideologies he labels as the “woke mind virus.”
Driven by this profound personal experience, Musk declared he is determined to “destroy the woke mind virus,” framing his public statements as a defense of vulnerable children and a desperate attempt to protect others from a similar fate. The conflict has become a raw and intensely personal battle playing out on a very public stage.
The situation highlights the complex and often painful realities surrounding gender identity, parental rights, and the influence of ideology, leaving a trail of emotional fallout in its wake.
