Wearing heels and holding a trans flag, Vivian’s LA drag debut raised funds to defend immigrant rights against ICE raids.
Vivian Jenna Wilson, the 21-year-old transgender daughter of Elon Musk, took the stage in full drag Thursday night, waving a trans pride flag and raising her voice – and thousands of dollars – for immigrant rights in Los Angeles.
Just earlier this month, Wilson discussed her aspirations to do drag on the Wine About It podcast, saying:
"I adore drag. I really wanna do that. The problem is, I’m really bad at makeup”,
she added with a laugh. Luckily, a professional makeup artist helped transform her for the night.
After the show, she thanked the organizers and described the experience as “life-changing” on Instagram.
A Performance With Purpose
Wilson’s debut drag performance came during “SAVE HER,” an environmental and political drag show hosted by acclaimed queer activist and drag artist Pattie Gonia on June 14 at The Bellwether in Los Angeles, just blocks away from the site of recent protests over aggressive immigration raids in predominantly Latino neighborhoods.
Wearing a black catsuit, Wilson strutted down the runway under stage lights emblazoned with the phrases “F*** ICE” and “No One Is Illegal On Stolen Land.”
The show, described as an urgent call for solidarity and resistance, featured performances by creators like Sequoia, Vera!, Jacob Ostler, and Trudy Tective.
“Get ICE the f*** out of Los Angeles. Them, alongside the National Guard, coming here to disrupt our city... to rip people from their homes and lives is a disgrace”,
Wilson wrote on BlueSky ahead of the show.
Wilson, who has been estranged from her father Musk and outspoken in her criticism of him, used the event to support immigrant legal defense funds.
According to organizers, 100% of proceeds from the performance will go toward paying for lawyers to defend immigrants facing deportation and ICE raids in California.
The Political Storm Behind the Performance
Wilson’s bold appearance placed her at the intersection of multiple political flashpoints: trans rights, drag culture, and immigration justice – all of which are increasingly under fire.
Her remarks come amid a rapidly escalating immigration crackdown led by president Donald Trump, who deployed 2,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles earlier this month.
The move bypassed California Governor Gavin Newsom and followed weeks of ICE raids, with videos surfacing of masked agents detaining even U.S. citizens during sweeps at community events and swap meets.
The aggressive tactics sparked daily protests and international outcry.
Cultural Resistance On The Rise
Wilson’s performance isn’t the only form of cultural resistance rising in LA and beyond.
At Dodger Stadium, singer Nezza recently performed the Spanish national anthem in solidarity with immigrant families.
Angel City FC, a women’s soccer team in the NWSL, rebranded themselves “Immigrant City Football Club,” raising thousands with merchandise to support legal aid for those facing deportation.
Meanwhile, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Trump was booed while attending a performance of Les Misérables. Drag queens appeared in protest after he vowed to ban all drag performances from the institution, which he now oversees as chairman of its board.