The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Studies and Prevention has issued a “Red Flag Alert” for the United States following an incident involving billionaire Elon Musk, a key ally of President Donald Trump. The alert follows Musk’s widely reported act of twice flashing what was widely perceived as a Nazi salute during a post-inauguration event, sparking alarm among human rights groups and public officials alike.
Named after Raphael Lemkin, the Polish-born lawyer who coined the term “genocide,” the Lemkin Institute described Musk’s actions as a “frightening signal of things to come.” The organisation strongly rejected claims that the billionaire’s gestures were inadvertent or unintentional, instead suggesting that they were deliberate acts of ideological symbolism.
The group pointed to Musk’s significant influence within Trump’s administration and stressed that such gestures, given the historical context of the Nazi salute, should not be dismissed as harmless mistakes. “Is it possible that any person—especially in South Africa, where support for Nazism was historically strong, or the USA, where the History Channel has introduced almost all but the youngest generations to the Nazi salute—could be unaware of its meaning?” the Lemkin Institute asked in a statement. “It is almost impossible that this was an unfortunate mistake.”
Further questioning the plausibility of the salutes being unintentional, the organisation emphasised Musk’s high public profile and suggested that no one in his position could unknowingly make such a gesture while publicly celebrating Trump’s election. “We strongly believe that Elon Musk’s gesture was intentional. We will be happy to be proven wrong,” the statement read.
The Lemkin Institute’s alert called on Americans to “respond with critical thinking” to any attempts to downplay Musk’s actions. The group also urged that the billionaire’s salute not be overlooked by the media, criticising the U.S. press for what they perceive as a lack of backbone in its coverage of Trump’s administration. “Musk’s Hitler salute cannot and must not be swept under the rug,” the organisation continued. “It is up to the American people to defend the Constitution and this country’s core values against all threats.”
The Institute went on to highlight the real dangers it believes are posed by Musk and other billionaires aligned with Trump. “Trans people, refugees, and migrants are not the threats. The billionaires with close ties to our new president who flash the Nazi salute and seek to replace the old elites with a new caste—that is the real threat to America.”
Musk’s controversial gesture has also sparked a strong reaction from public officials and activists across the globe. German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach expressed his concern over Musk’s proximity to far-right populist movements. “Such a gesture, given his already known proximity to right-wing populists in the fascist tradition, must worry every democrat,” Lauterbach wrote in response.
Musk’s actions were also praised by far-right extremists, with some seeing the salute as a show of support for their ideologies. According to Rolling Stone, the Proud Boys Ohio chapter shared a video of Musk’s salute on their Telegram channel, along with the phrase “Hail Trump!” This has led to fears that the billionaire’s gestures could embolden right-wing radicals, both in the U.S. and internationally.
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The backlash against Musk’s salutes raises broader questions about the role of wealthy elites in modern political movements, especially in light of Trump’s return to the White House. The Lemkin Institute has warned that the symbolism associated with such gestures is not merely historical but deeply relevant to contemporary political dynamics, particularly in the context of rising far-right influence.
As Musk’s influence continues to grow, particularly with his high-profile involvement in the Trump administration, critics argue that his actions could normalise dangerous ideologies. The Lemkin Institute’s alert serves as a stark reminder of the potential for authoritarian movements to gain traction when the symbols and rhetoric of the past are revived by powerful figures.
In the coming weeks, it is likely that both Musk’s actions and the reactions to them will continue to dominate political discourse, with advocates for human rights and democracy calling for greater scrutiny of the billionaire’s influence on the political landscape. As the debate rages on, the Lemkin Institute’s warning remains clear: the Nazi salute, and the ideas it represents, must not be allowed to flourish unchallenged in modern society.
