RM Elon Musk Sparks Backlash With Unfounded Claims About White Men and Gender Transition
Elon Musk has once again drawn criticism after using his platform to promote an unsupported theory—this time suggesting that “white males” are transitioning due to what he described as “propaganda.”
The billionaire owner of X (formerly Twitter) shared what he called an “observation,” claiming without evidence that negative portrayals of white men are pushing some to transition. According to Musk, persistent messaging that paints white men as “the worst human beings,” combined with vulnerability during adolescence, allegedly encourages some to identify as part of a group he labeled as “celebrated.”
Musk, 54, who has no background in gender studies or sexology, offered no data to support the claim. His remarks were widely criticized, particularly given that transgender people are among the most targeted groups for hate crimes in the United States. An FBI report released in August showed that LGBTQ+ individuals rank among the highest demographics affected by reported hate crimes.
In addition, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has tracked more than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills proposed across U.S. state legislatures over the past three years. This year alone, 604 such bills were introduced, with at least 70 already enacted into law—many directly targeting transgender people.
There is also no credible research indicating that white men are transitioning or detransitioning at higher rates than other demographic groups.
Musk’s comments align with a broader pattern of controversial political statements. The South African–born billionaire has frequently voiced right-wing views and has a history of remarks perceived as hostile toward the LGBTQ+ community.
His estranged transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, publicly criticized him earlier this year following his widely condemned gesture at Donald Trump’s January inauguration, which many interpreted as a Nazi salute. Responding on Threads, she wrote: “Let’s call a spade a f**king spade.”
According to Bloomberg, Musk’s public behavior has had significant financial consequences. Since the incident, he has reportedly lost more than $148 billion in net worth, including a $29 billion drop on March 10 alone—an amount nearly four times the estimated annual cost required to eliminate world hunger by 2030.
