‘Your daughter hates you’: Trans rights clash with Newsom turns ugly, Musk fires back with ‘woke mind virus’ charge

California Governor Gavin Newsom and Elon Musk clashed publicly on X in a sharp exchange that reignited longstanding tensions over transgender issues and what Musk calls the “woke mind virus.” The dispute began when Newsom defended his record on LGBTQ rights during an online discussion, declaring, “I want to see trans kids... There’s no governor that’s done more pro trans legislation than I have.” Responding to criticism in the thread, Newsom wrote, “Correct. We’re sorry your daughter hates you, Elon.”

Musk fired back immediately, accusing Newsom of weaponising a personal family situation for political points. Referring to his transgender daughter Vivian Jenna Wilson as his son, he said: “I assume you’re referring to my son, Xavier, who has a tragic mental illness caused by the evil woke mind virus you push on vulnerable children. I love Xavier very much and hope he recovers.” Musk then added that his other children remain close to him, writing, “My daughters are Azure, Exa (she goes by Y) and Arcadia, and they do indeed love me very much.”

I assume you’re referring to my son, Xavier, who has a tragic mental illness caused by the evil woke mind virus you push on vulnerable children. I love Xavier very much and hope he recovers. My daughters are Azure, Exa (she goes by Y) and Arcadia, and they do indeed love me…

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 12, 2025

The exchange quickly spread across the platform as users debated Newsom’s remark and Musk’s rebuttal. Critics accused Newsom of making a personal attack on a parent’s relationship with their child, while supporters argued that Musk has routinely targeted transgender individuals and policies.

One user wrote, “No matter what you think about Elon, hitting him with his children is the lowest you can get.” Another said, “Kids are off limits. What Gavin Newsom’s team did was shameful. I’m sorry you were put in a situation where you had to defend your kid, Elon.”

Others took aim at Musk’s own conduct. One user asked, “Elon, why don’t you support your daughter?” Another added, “Classy move from a governor’s office: just mock a father’s estrangement from his child. Real moral high ground there.”

The controversy also revived past remarks from Musk’s daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson. In an NBC interview last year, she described Musk as an absent father and alleged he had been cruel to her because of her identity. “I think he was under the assumption that I wasn’t going to say anything and I would just let this go unchallenged,” Wilson said. “Which I’m not going to do, because if you’re going to lie about me, like, blatantly to an audience of millions, I’m not just gonna let that slide.”

Wilson made those comments after Musk declared in an earlier interview that she was “not a girl” and said she was figuratively “dead.”