Elon Musk, renowned entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, found himself at the center of a heated controversy after appearing to make back-to-back fascist-style salutes during the presidential inauguration celebrations for Donald Trump. The incident, which took place at a high-profile event, sparked widespread shock and debate on social media platforms. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) describes the Nazi salute as "raising an outstretched right arm with the palm down," a gesture historically linked to Nazi Germany and its ideologies.
The salute, also known as the Roman salute, is considered a symbol of white supremacy and neo-Nazism. Its history dates back to World War II when it was often accompanied by chants of "Heil Hitler" or "Sieg Heil" in Germany between 1933 and 1945. Since then, it has remained prevalent among neo-Nazis and white supremacists worldwide, symbolizing extremist beliefs.
Eric Feigl-Ding, a public health expert, described Musk's action as "a Nazi salute live on TV," highlighting the gravity of the situation.
“My God … Musk just did the Nazi salute live on TV.” – Eric Feigl-Ding
Musk's gesture ignited a firestorm of criticism and accusations. Many viewed it as a direct signal of support for Trump and far-right ideology. Musk's association with such ideologies has been a subject of ongoing debate, further fueled by his history of hosting far-right figures like Alice Weidel, leader of Germany's Alternative für Deutschland party. Weidel has faced backlash for comments likened to those of Adolf Hitler.
“a Roman salute, a fascist salute most commonly associated with Nazi Germany” – Haaretz
“was often accompanied by chanting or shouting ‘Heil Hitler’ or ‘Sieg Heil.’” – ADL
As the public reacted to Musk's controversial gesture, discussions around his political affiliations intensified. Critics have accused him of sympathizing with white supremacists and questioned his support for Trump, who has similarly faced accusations of harboring white supremacist views and comparisons to Hitler.
In response to the uproar, Musk addressed the audience with optimism about the future.
“It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured. Thanks to you. We’re gonna have safe cities, finally safe cities. Secure borders, sensible spending. Basic stuff. And we’re gonna take ‘Doge’ to Mars.” – Elon Musk