US tech billionaire Elon Musk found himself at the centre of controversy after making a gesture at Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony at the Capital One Arena in Washington. The gesture, which many on social media compared to a Nazi salute, has sparked heated debate and criticism from various quarters.
As Musk took the stage, he expressed his gratitude to the crowd for Trump’s victory and celebrated the new administration’s vision for space exploration. “The future of civilization is assured,” Musk declared, adding, “This is what victory feels like.” While thanking the audience, Musk tapped the left side of his chest with his right hand and then extended his arm with an open palm, a motion he repeated for the crowd behind him.
Social Media Backlash
A video of the gesture quickly went viral, with many users interpreting it as a Nazi salute. Claire Aubin, a historian specializing in Nazism within the U.S., called the gesture a “sieg heil,” asserting that viewers should trust their observations. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian of fascism, echoed these sentiments, describing the gesture as a “very belligerent Nazi salute.”
Democratic leaders reacted strongly to the incident. Congressman Jimmy Gomez responded with alarm on social media, writing, “Well, that didn’t take long.” Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) also weighed in, condemning those defending Musk and stating, “Just to be clear, you are defending a Heil Hitler salute that was performed and repeated for emphasis and clarity.
Elon Musk dismissed the criticism, taking to his social media platform X to counter the accusations. “Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired,” Musk wrote, rejecting claims that his gesture had any sinister connotations.
Musk’s Response
Supporters of Musk and Trump pushed back against the accusations, arguing that Musk’s gesture was a heartfelt thank-you rather than a Nazi salute. A rally attendee, Brandon Galambos, claimed that Musk was being humorous and sarcastic. “I don’t think he meant it,” Galambos said.
Mainstream media outlets like CNN analysed the footage, acknowledging that the gesture was unusual but stopping short of explicitly labelling it a Nazi salute. “It’s a salute. It was quick. I think our viewers are smart and they can take a look at that,” CNN anchors commented, leading to criticism from Republican supporters who accused the network of bias.
Far-Right Celebration
Reports from Wired and Rolling Stone indicated that far-right personalities in the U.S. were celebrating Musk’s gesture. Writer Evan Kilgore described it as “incredible,” further fueling the debate over Musk’s intentions.
The incident has deepened existing political divisions, with some viewing Musk’s actions as a troubling sign of support for extremist ideologies, while others see it as an innocent and misunderstood gesture. As the controversy unfolds, Musk remains defiant, and the debate over his intent continues to rage on social media and in political circles.