Musk Dismisses Controversy Over Gesture at Trump Inauguration Celebration
Elon Musk has downplayed criticism surrounding a one-armed gesture he made during a speech celebrating Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th U.S. president.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO addressed the crowd at Washington DC’s Capital One Arena on Monday, expressing gratitude for their support. Musk placed his right hand over his heart before extending the same arm straight ahead. He then turned and repeated the motion toward the audience behind him.
The gesture quickly sparked debate online, with some X (formerly Twitter) users drawing comparisons to the Nazi salute. Others argued it was an innocent act.
Responding to the backlash, Musk posted on his platform: “Honestly, they need to come up with better smears. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ line is beyond old.”
A Divisive Moment
Musk, a close ally of President Trump and one of the world’s wealthiest individuals, addressed the crowd enthusiastically during the event. “My heart goes out to you. It’s because of you that the future of civilization is secure,” the 53-year-old said, repeating the controversial gesture.
Criticism erupted immediately. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian at New York University specializing in fascism, labeled the motion “a Nazi salute” and described it as “aggressively symbolic.”
However, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an organization combating antisemitism, took a different stance. “It appears to have been an awkward expression of enthusiasm rather than a Nazi salute,” the ADL posted on X.
Allies Weigh In
Andrea Stroppa, a Musk confidant with ties to far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, shared the video of the incident with the caption: “The Roman Empire returns, starting with the Roman salute.” The Roman salute was historically associated with Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime and later adopted by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi party. Stroppa’s post was later deleted, with the Italian media reporting his clarification.
Stroppa explained: “That gesture, which some misinterpreted as a Nazi salute, was simply Elon expressing his emotions. He wanted to say, ‘I give my heart to you.’ Elon, who has autism, dislikes extremists of all kinds.”
Shifting Politics
The controversy comes amid growing attention to Musk’s political leanings, which have moved notably to the right in recent years. He has voiced support for Germany’s far-right AfD party and Britain’s anti-immigration Reform UK party.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was asked about the comparisons to a Nazi salute, which is illegal in Germany. Scholz remarked, “We value freedom of speech in Europe and Germany. However, we strongly oppose any gestures or rhetoric that support extreme right-wing ideologies.”
Musk has become a key ally of Trump, taking on a significant role in the administration’s newly established Department of Government Efficiency. While the gesture remains controversial, Musk seems unbothered by the uproar, focusing instead on his ongoing collaboration with the Trump administration.
