Following President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk found himself at the centre of controversy after appearing to make a fascist salute during a celebratory rally in Washington, D.C. As he concluded his remarks, Musk raised his right arm, with his palm facing down, in a gesture that resembled the infamous Nazi salute associated with Adolf Hitler’s regime. This action was repeated twice, causing a stir among both onlookers and critics.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an organisation dedicated to fighting antisemitism, was quick to address the incident, clarifying that Musk’s gesture was likely an “awkward” move made in a moment of enthusiasm, rather than a deliberate Nazi salute. The ADL’s statement on platform X, which Musk owns, noted that the gesture could have been misunderstood, urging that all parties should extend “a bit of grace” and give Musk the “benefit of the doubt.”
However, this explanation did little to calm the backlash. Critics were quick to call out the gesture and its apparent similarity to a Nazi salute, with many pointing to the repetition of the motion as evidence of intent. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) responded firmly to the ADL’s statement, writing, “Just to be clear, you are defending a Heil Hitler salute that was performed and repeated for emphasis and clarity.”
Others took to social media to express their disbelief. “Did Elon Musk just hit the Roman salute at his inauguration speech?” asked Twitch streamer Hasan Piker on X, while political strategist Walid Shahid questioned, “Why isn’t Elon Musk doing two Nazi salutes at Trump’s inauguration a lead story today?”
The gesture also prompted a response from former Representative Cori Bush (D-Mo.), who remarked, “Dang he meant that. Looks as if he’s been holding that in for a while and finally was able to let it rip. Like he practiced in the mirror to hit that angle just right.”
Many observers noted that Musk’s controversial past, including his support for far-right political movements, added fuel to the fire. Musk has previously expressed support for the Alternative for Germany (AfD), a far-right, anti-immigrant party with ties to extremist ideologies. The party has been labelled as a “suspected extremist” group by Germany’s domestic intelligence service, and some of its members have been accused of trivialising the Holocaust and using Nazi imagery in their speeches. Musk’s association with the AfD reached new heights when he hosted a live event with the party’s leader, Alice Weidel, earlier this year on platform X.
Additionally, Musk has made headlines for repeatedly targeting billionaire philanthropist George Soros, a figure who has long been the subject of antisemitic conspiracy theories. Musk has shared posts claiming that Soros “collaborated with the Nazis as a teenager” and accusing him of attempting to “destroy the West.”
The appearance of the fascist salute and Musk’s ties to controversial figures prompted many to question his political leanings and affiliations. “He accidentally did a Nazi salute… TWICE,” remarked journalist Mehdi Hasan. “He is who we think he is.”
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While Musk’s gesture may have been downplayed by some, others remained resolute in their interpretation. Michael McCarthy, a PhD student at Indiana University, posted on X, “Tomorrow we’ll get an explanation that it wasn’t a Sieg Heil, he was just pantomiming his ‘heart going out to the people.’ Legacy media will basically accept this explanation.” McCarthy, however, made it clear that he had seen enough to form his own opinion, adding, “But you know what you saw, and you know what he is.”
This incident has sparked a larger conversation about the intersection of wealth, politics, and extremism in contemporary society. Musk’s prominence as a billionaire and influential figure in both business and politics only serves to amplify the significance of his actions, with critics suggesting that his behaviour could embolden far-right ideologies and contribute to a broader acceptance of extremist rhetoric.
As the debate rages on, it remains to be seen whether Musk will address the controversy surrounding his gesture, and whether his actions will have any lasting impact on his public image and his role in the political sphere.
