Elon Musk Sparks Controversy with Back-to-Back Gestures at Inauguration Rally
Elon Musk found himself at the center of controversy on Monday when he performed fascist-style salutes during the celebrations for Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration.
“I want to express my gratitude for making this happen,” said the owner of SpaceX, X, and Tesla, the wealthiest person in the world and a significant donor and adviser to Trump, to his supporters at the Capital One Arena in Washington.
Musk then placed his right hand on his chest, fingers spread, before extending his right arm upward at an angle, fingers together and palms facing down.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which works to combat antisemitism, describes the Nazi salute as “raising an outstretched right arm with the palm down.” As the audience cheered, Musk turned and performed the salute again, with his arm and hand slightly lower.
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“I empathize with you,” Musk declared, hitting his chest once more. “It is because of you that the future of our civilization is secure. Thank you. We are going to have safe cities, finally safe cities. Secure borders, sensible spending. Fundamental things. And we’re going to take ‘Doge’ to Mars.”
This refers to the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency,” the federal initiative aimed at reducing costs, to which Musk was appointed by Trump, along with remarks from the inaugural address where Trump mentioned sending astronauts to Mars.
Musk encouraged his audience to envision American astronauts planting a flag on another planet, mimicking the action and exclaiming: “Bam! Bam!”
He was addressing the crowd before Trump took the stage, as the inaugural parade events were moved indoors due to low temperatures and the signing of executive orders happening onstage. Users on social media expressed their surprise at Musk’s gesture.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a history professor at New York University, commented: “As a historian of fascism, I view this as a Nazi salute, and it certainly appeared quite aggressive.” Musk did not respond immediately, although he did share a clip of his comments that featured the second salute and supported memes that aimed to turn his salutes into humorous content.
A user on X commented, “Can we please stop labeling people as Nazis?”
Musk responded, “Exactly” and included a “yawning” emoji.
However, Haaretz, an Israeli publication, noted that Musk performed “a Roman salute, a fascist gesture typically linked to Nazi Germany.”
The ADL, meanwhile, says that in Germany between 1933 and 1945, the Nazi salute “was often accompanied by chanting or shouting ‘Heil Hitler’ or ‘Sieg Heil.’
Since world war two, neo-Nazis and other white supremacists have continued to use the salute, making it the most common white supremacist hand sign in the world.”
In a message shared on social media on Monday, the ADL stated: “This is a sensitive time. It’s a fresh start, yet many remain anxious. Our political climate is charged, and social media only heightens the tension.
“It appears that Elon Musk made an uncomfortable gesture out of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but we understand that many are feeling tense. During this time, all parties should extend a little grace to one another, and perhaps a chance to be understood, and take a moment to relax. This marks a new chapter. Let’s aspire for healing and strive for unity in the upcoming months and years.”
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent progressive Democratic representative from New York, criticized the ADL: “To be clear, you are justifying a Heil Hitler salute that was executed and reiterated for emphasis and understanding. People can officially disregard you as a credible source of information from now on. You are in their service. Thank you for clarifying that for everyone.”
Musk replied to that message, claiming Ocasio-Cortez “has reached Stage 5 [Trump Derangement Syndrome] – completely irrational.”
Trump has widely been accused of being a white supremacist and indeed compared to Hitler – not least by JD Vance, now Trump’s vice-president, before the former Marine and author entered Republican politics and changed his tune.
Musk’s involvement with and backing of the global far-right continues to spark controversy. Earlier this month, he welcomed Alice Weidel, the leader of the far-right German party Alternative für Deutschland, for a discussion on X. Weidel argued that Hitler “wasn’t a conservative, he wasn’t a libertarian, he was a communist, socialist guy, and we are the opposite.” Musk concurred with her statement.
On Monday, several notable far-right users on social media celebrated Musk’s comments made during an event in Washington, regardless of his intentions. As Rolling Stone first reported, Christopher Pohlhaus, the head of the neo-Nazi group Blood Tribe, posted on Telegram: “I don’t care if this was a mistake. I’m going to enjoy the tears over it.” Meanwhile, Andrew Torba, the founder of the far-right platform Gab, commented: “Incredible things are happening already.”