Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has sparked controversy due to a gesture he made during President Donald Trump’s inauguration events. While speaking to supporters at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Musk placed his hand on his chest and then extended his right arm outward. Many people interpreted this motion as reminiscent of a Nazi salute.
During his speech, Musk expressed his gratitude to the audience by saying, “I just want to say thank you for making it happen.” He then repeated the gesture toward people behind him. CNN anchor Erin Burnett characterized it as an “odd-looking salute,” pointing out that it was unusual for an American political rally.
Reactions on social media were rapid and divided. Critics accused Musk of making a “Sieg Heil” salute, a gesture historically linked to Nazi Germany. One user on Bluesky commented, “Yeah, Elon gave a Sieg Heil,” while Democratic strategist Sawyer Hackett tweeted, “Our new co-president, Elon Musk, gives a Nazi salute on the first day of the Trump presidency.”
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Reported by The Independent, supporters of Elon Musk offered alternative interpretations of his gesture. Some suggested that it resembled a “Roman salute,” which was originally a sign of respect and loyalty in ancient Rome. However, it’s essential to note that this salute was later adopted by fascist regimes, including Nazi Germany. Others contended that Musk was merely expressing enthusiasm. Newsweek opinion editor Batya Ungar-Sargon stated, “This is a man with Asperger’s exuberantly throwing his heart to the crowd. We don’t need to invent outrage.”
This incident adds to a series of actions by Musk that have drawn criticism. Recently, he expressed support for the far-right Alternative for Deutschland (AfD), a German political party with neo-Nazi associations, and hosted its leader for a discussion on X (formerly Twitter). Additionally, Musk changed his X username to “Kekius Maximus” and updated his profile picture to “Pepe the Frog,” a meme co-opted by alt-right and white supremacist groups.
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Currently, Elon Musk has not publicly commented on the controversy surrounding his gesture at the inauguration event. The ongoing debate reflects the significant divisions in public perception regarding his actions and their implications.
