In brief
The incident has both drawn criticism and support, igniting discussions about Musk's recent political alignment.
During a recent event celebrating Donald Trump’s inauguration, Elon Musk made a gesture that has sparked significant controversy. While addressing the crowd at the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C., Musk expressed gratitude for the support he received, thanking attendees for "making it happen." However, his follow-up move, which involved placing his right hand over his heart and thrusting the same arm forcefully forward, has drawn comparisons to a Nazi salute.Responses on social media platforms, particularly X, have been swift and rough, with many users criticizing Musk for the gesture. Taking to the platform, Musk dismissed the backlash by stating, "Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The 'everyone is Hitler' attack is sooo tired."The context of Musk’s remarks came as he stated, "My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured," after repeating the one-armed gesture. Historian Claire Aubin weighed in on the controversy, emphasizing that the gesture resembled a "sieg heil" salute, an assertion echoed by New York University history professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat, who described it as a "Nazi salute and a very belligerent one too."Adding fuel to the fire, Andrea Stroppa, a close associate of Musk with connections to far-right political figures, shared a clip of the incident with a caption referencing the Roman salute historically used by Mussolini's Fascist Party, later deleted amid the outcry. Stroppa then explained that Musk's gesture was simply an expression of his feelings, clarifying, "That is exactly what he communicated into the microphone. ELON DISLIKES EXTREMISTS!"Despite the heavy backlash, certain groups have come to Musk's defense. The Anti-Defamation League noted that the gesture seemed to be an awkward movement made in a moment of excitement rather than a deliberate Nazi salute. Musk’s recent actions and commentary suggest a shift toward the political right, showing support for Germany's far-right AfD and the British anti-immigration party, Reform UK. As one of Trump’s closest allies in the tech world, Musk’s political affiliations and behaviors continue to stir debate and concern.
