California Governor Gavin Newsom found himself at the center of a heated exchange after criticizing Elon Musk’s reported estrangement from his transgender-identifying son during remarks about transgender healthcare.
In a video post, Newsom defended his strong advocacy for transgender youth health care, stating he has a trans godson and that “nobody has been a stronger advocate” than himself. The governor took aim at Musk, saying: “Correct. We’re sorry your daughter hates you, Elon.”
Musk responded by accusing Newsom of promoting an “evil woke mind virus” that causes mental illness in children. He stated: “I assume you’re referring to my son, Xavier, who has a tragic mental illness caused by the evil woke mind virus you push.” Musk added he loves his son and hopes he recovers, noting his daughters—Azure, Exa (who goes by Y), and Arcadia—all love him.
The comments sparked immediate reactions. Republican Senator Ted Cruz labeled Newsom “sick” and urged him to stop targeting children. Palantir founder Jon Lonsdale called the remarks “raw evil” and vowed to prevent Newsom from gaining more political power. Kaylee White stated that a primary goal of the Left is to divide children from their parents by pushing gender ideology, while actor Dean Cain described Newsom as “most vile.”
Newsom, who has been a leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028, has garnered significant support among Democrats.
