Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk was brimming with excitement at a rally following President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Held at Capital One Arena in Washington, the event was marked by cheers and roaring applause. Musk, sharing the stage, punctuated the energy with a fist pump and a booming “Yes!” that electrified the crowd.
However, it wasn’t just his celebratory display that caught attention. Moments later, another gesture—a motion that started with Musk placing his hand on his chest before lifting it upward—left many questioning whether his actions were merely an expression of joy or something far more controversial.
What was meant to be a moment of celebration has since spiraled into heated discussions online, with interpretations ranging from support to suspicion. Musk, recently appointed head of the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), has found himself at the center of a heated debate with many interpreting his hand gesture as reminiscent of the Nazi “Sieg Heil” salute. The backlash intensified when Musk took to social media to dismiss the allegations.
Sharing a post from the account “The Rabbit Hole” on X, Musk labeled the accusations as part of a smear campaign. “The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired,” Musk wrote, adding, “Frankly, they need better dirty tricks.”
Social media erupted in response. Critics accused Musk of making a Nazi gesture, with one user writing, “I can’t believe Elon Musk did the Nazi salute as a way of thanking Trump supporters.” History professor at NYU Ruth Ben-Ghiat weighed in, calling the gesture a “very belligerent” Nazi salute.
Supporters, however, defended Musk fervently. “The Fake News is twisting the narrative,” one user claimed, pointing out that Musk’s gesture was accompanied by him saying, “My heart goes out to you.” Another called the accusations “ridiculous.”