At the Conservative Political Action Conference on February 20, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Maryland, Tesla CEO Elon Musk was seen with a chainsaw alongside Newsmax anchor Rob Schmitt in an image captured by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images. On the same day, Musk’s estranged daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, held her second-ever interview with a media outlet. During this time, Musk utilized his X platform to suggest that reports of attacks on Teslas were orchestrated by transgender individuals.
In her interview with Teen Vogue, Wilson expressed her indifference towards Musk, labeling him as a “pathetic man-child.” She further stated that wealth does not hold significance to her and criticized Musk’s actions, particularly referencing his controversial gestures and statements. Wilson, who has not communicated with Musk since 2020, has previously called out the billionaire for his behavior.
In response to Musk’s claims regarding her identity and past actions, Wilson highlighted the inaccuracies and falsities of his statements. Musk’s denial of her transgender identity aligns with his alignment with far-right politics, which often oppose transgender rights and affirming care. Wilson has openly refuted Musk’s misinformation, asserting the fabricated nature of his claims.
In his public statements and social media posts, Musk has perpetuated falsehoods, linking incidents of vandalism on Teslas to transgender individuals. He has made inflammatory remarks about trans violence and shared content insinuating connections between trans people and criminal activities. Musk’s spreading of misinformation has been met with criticism and rebuttals from Wilson and other sources.
The ongoing conflict between Musk and Wilson reflects a deeper divide over identity, politics, and accountability. Musk’s actions and statements have raised concerns about the dissemination of false information and the impact of his platform on public discourse. The clash between father and daughter underscores the complexities of family dynamics and ideological differences in a highly publicized setting.
“Committed to restoring law and order in our country, Leavitt emphasized the pursuit of the harshest penalties for those responsible for the recent violence against an American company. In response to Faulkner’s hypothetical scenario, he stated, ‘I am determined to restore law and order in our country, and I will ensure that the harshest penalties are pursued for those who are engaging in this vicious violence that we have seen targeted at this American company.’
A self-proclaimed advocate of free speech, Musk, who acquired X for $44 billion in October 2022, has utilized the platform to criticize immigrants, transgender individuals, and promote an antisemitic conspiracy theory.
In a recent interview with Teen Vogue, Wilson openly discussed her queerness at a time when Trump’s administration has been focused on dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.
As a supporter of Trump, Musk has voiced his opposition to DEI programs, labeling them as ‘just another word for racism’ and asserting ‘DEI must DIE’ in a December 2023 post on X. Under his direction, the Department of Government Efficiency issued a threat in February to withdraw federal funding from public schools and universities that did not discontinue their DEI programs within two weeks.
