Elon Musk fires back after Gavin Newsom says his transgender daughter ‘hates’ him

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Tesla CEO Elon Musk pushed back after California Governor Gavin Newsom’s press office mocked his family, claiming that his estranged transgender daughter Vivian Jenna Wilson “hates” him. The comment, posted on X in response to a video shared by Musk-backed America PAC, quickly escalated a political disagreement into a personal exchange.

Musk responded publicly by disputing the remark and addressing his strained relationship with his child, setting off a broader debate online about the appropriateness of Newsom’s jab and Musk’s long-standing views on transgender issues.

Elon Musk pushes back after Gavin Newsom’s office mocks his family

The Governor’s Press Office wrote, “We’re sorry your daughter hates you, Elon,” beneath a clip in which Newsom discussed California’s efforts to protect transgender rights. The post appeared to directly target Musk’s family life rather than the policy issue at hand.

Musk replied on X by saying he assumed the comment referred to his son, Xavier, who is also known publicly as Vivian Jenna Wilson. In his response, Musk said Xavier was suffering from what he described as a “tragic mental illness” caused by the “evil woke mind virus,” adding that he loved him and hoped he would recover.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO also pushed back against the implication that he was estranged from all of his children. He listed his daughters by name, saying Azure, Exa, who goes by Y, and Arcadia remained close to him and “do indeed love me very much."

Vivian Jenna Wilson and her relationship with her father Elon Musk

Elon Musk’s rift with his transgender daughter Vivian Jenna Wilson has been public for several years. Vivian, one of six children Musk shares with his first wife, author Justine Musk, legally changed her name and gender in California in 2022 and dropped the Musk surname.

In court filings, Vivian stated that she no longer wished “to be related to my biological father in any way, shape or form.” She later reiterated that distance during her first interview with Teen Vogue earlier this year, where she described Musk as a “pathetic man-child.”

Musk has also spoken openly about the fallout. He has said he was misled into consenting to Vivian’s medical transition as a minor and has blamed what he calls the “woke mind virus” for their estrangement. His comments have drawn sharp criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates and mental health experts.

Since severing ties with her father, Vivian has worked to establish her own public identity. She has pursued modeling and media projects and recently appeared on the cover of Teen Vogue, signaling her growing profile independent of Musk’s influence.