On Monday, Elon Musk addressed a crowd of supporters, performing a gesture that quickly became a lightning rod for controversy.
During his speech to MAGA faithful, Musk placed a hand on his heart, extended it outward with a quick, snapping motion, palm facing down, and repeated the action for the audience behind him.
The gesture, broadcast live by some outlets, drew immediate comparisons to the Nazi salute used by Adolf Hitler’s party and other far-right movements.
“My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured,” Musk told the audience following the gesture.
Critics were quick to draw parallels between Musk’s motion and the Nazi salute, a gesture banned in several countries, including Germany, due to its association with far-right extremism.
In case anyone doubts this was a full blown Nazi salute.
— Ken Sheetz (@kensheetz.bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Historically referred to as the “Roman salute,” the gesture has no verified origins in ancient Roman art or texts and is widely considered a product of fascist propaganda.
The association between the salute and Nazism remains a potent symbol of extremism, still used by neo-Nazi and fascist groups.
Prominent figures and organizations weighed in on Musk’s controversial gesture. Hasan Piker, a left-wing commentator, posted on X (formerly Twitter), “Did Elon Musk just hit the Roman salute at his inauguration speech?”
did elon musk just hit the roman salute at his inauguration speech?
— hasanabi (@hasanthehun) January 20, 2025
The comment echoed broader concerns raised by critics online.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an organization that has faced scrutiny for its stances on recent protests, dismissed the notion that Musk had performed a Nazi salute.
In a post on X, the ADL described the gesture as an “awkward motion in a moment of enthusiasm” and called for “grace” from all sides.
This is a delicate moment. It’s a new day and yet so many are on edge. Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety.
It seems that @elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on…
— ADL (@ADL) January 20, 2025
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However, others viewed the gesture as unambiguous. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian of fascism and professor at New York University, took to Bluesky to express her perspective.
“It was a Nazi salute and a very belligerent one too,” she wrote.
Musk’s defenders argued that the motion was innocuous, attributing it to his social awkwardness.
Some suggested it could be linked to Musk’s self-described autism, which he has occasionally referenced publicly. Still, the gesture found enthusiastic support among far-right groups online.
Despite the controversy, Musk’s gesture received an overwhelmingly positive response from far-right extremists and neo-Nazi groups.
Christopher Pohlhaus, leader of the neo-Nazi group Blood Tribe, shared the clip on Telegram, accompanied by a lightning bolt emoji—a reference to the SS insignia—and the caption, “I don’t care if this was a mistake. I’m going to enjoy the tears over it.”
Andrew Torba, founder of the far-right social media platform Gab, also shared the video, writing, “Incredible things are happening already lmao.”
Musk, who has aligned himself with several far-right causes in recent years, dismissed the backlash as baseless.
Sharing a post from another user on X, Musk called the controversy a “salute hoax” and accused Democrats of running a “dirty tricks campaign” against him. “Frankly, they need better dirty tricks,” Musk wrote. “The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired.”
Frankly, they need better dirty tricks.
The “everyone is Hitler” attack is sooo tired 😴 https://t.co/9fIqS5mWA0
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2025
After the gesture, Musk continued his speech, focusing on themes such as “safe cities, secure borders, sensible spending,” and what he described as America’s “manifest destiny” to colonize Mars.
The comments reflect Musk’s broader rhetoric about innovation and national security, which have been central to his public persona in recent years.
As the fallout over Musk’s gesture continues, the incident highlights the polarization surrounding his leadership and public messaging.
The controversy underscores the growing scrutiny of Musk’s actions as he balances his roles as a tech entrepreneur and political figure.
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