Elon Musk’s back-to-back ‘Nazi salutes’ at Trump event sparks controversy
Elon Musk: On Monday, the tech billionaire took to the stage at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., pumping his arms and screaming “yes” to a rousing crowd of Trump supporters.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has sparked controversy after he gave two back-to-back hand gestures that drew comparisons to a Nazi salute, while addressing an event to celebrate Donald Trump’s inauguration as the new US President.
On Monday, the tech billionaire took to the stage at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., pumping his arms and screaming “yes” to a rousing crowd of Trump supporters.
“This was no ordinary victory. This was a fork in the road of human civilisation. This one mattered. Thank you for making it happen. Thank you,” he said, after which he slapped his right hand on his chest, while his fingers were spread wide.
He then extended his arm at an upward angle, palm down and fingers together. Musk turned around and made the same gesture also at the crowd behind him. “My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilisation is assured,” the SpaceX CEO added.
Musk also retweeted videos of his speech on his X handle, saying, “The future is so exciting.” However, the video he retweeted did not feature hand gestures.
While some social media users lashed out at the Tesla CEO for his hand gestures, other defended him.
The Anti-Defamation League, a New York-based nonprofit, said the gesture was “not a Nazi salute”.
“It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge,” the organisation, which defines the Nazi salute as “raising an outstretched right arm with the palm down”, tweeted.
But some did not take Musk’s so-called “salutes” too well.
While one user tweeted, “Remember when Democrats called MAGA rallies ‘Nazi rallies?’ President un-elect Elon Musk just did the Nazi Sieg Heil salute. We were right. Absolutely vile,” another said, “Within hours of Donald Trump taking the oath of office, billionaire Elon Musk gave the Nazi salute during his speech at an inauguration rally. It was not an accident or a mistake, he did it twice. Way to go America.”
“Our new co-president Elon Musk gives a Nazi salute on day one of Trump’s presidency,” another X user said.
However, a few others defended the SpaceX CEO, claiming that Musk was expressing, “My heart goes out to you.”
“The media is misleading you. Elon Musk never did a Nazi salute. Watch the full video: He gestured and said, ‘Thank you, my heart goes out to you’,” an X user tweeted.
Another said, “Truth! He said, “My heart goes out to you. “He grabbed his chest, and the gesture was giving his heart to them in 100% appreciation! We love you.”
Last month, Musk endorsed the Alternative for Germany (AfD) for the country’s February 23 general elections, calling the far-right anti-immigration, anti-Islamic party as Germany’s saviour.
AfD has been labelled right-wing extremist by German security services.
On January 9, the tech billionaire also hosted an online broadcast with the party’s chancellor candidate Alice Weidel, urging Germans to vote for her.
