Musk accused of giving Nazi salute during Trump’s inauguration ceremony. technology news
Anti-Defamation League defends tech billionaire for making ‘awkward gesture in moment of excitement’
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has come under fire after making back-to-back hand gestures resembling a Nazi salute during a speech celebrating Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration.
Addressing Trump supporters on Monday, hours after the Republican was inaugurated as the 47th US president, Musk described the outcome of the US presidential election on November 4 as “no normal victory”.
“This was a thorn in the side of human civilization,” Musk said at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.
“It really matters. Thanks For Making This Possible! Thank you.”
Musk then hit his right hand hard on his chest and then extended his hand upward, keeping his palm down and fingers together.
Wait, did Musk just do the Nazi salute? pic.twitter.com/VZChlQXSYv
– Republicans Against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) 20 January 2025
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO, who has been tasked with leading the so-called Department of Government Efficiency in Trump’s administration, then turned to face the crowd behind him and repeated the gesture.
Musk’s actions were immediately scrutinized online, with some social media users accusing him of giving the infamous Sieg Heil salute associated with Adolf Hitler.
British journalist and commentator Owen Jones said in a post on X, “Honestly, it couldn’t look more like a Nazi salute.”
The gesture was also criticized in the Israeli media, with the newspaper Haaretz stating that Musk appeared to end his remarks with “the ‘Roman salute’, which is a fascist salute commonly associated with Nazi Germany”.
Others defended Musk, including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), one of the most prominent organizations dedicated to opposing anti-Semitism, which said the billionaire made “an awkward comment in a moment of excitement.” The gesture was made, not a Nazi salute.
“In this moment, all sides should give each other a little grace, maybe even the benefit of the doubt, and take a sigh of relief,” the ADL said in a post on X.
“This is a new beginning. “Let us hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years to come.”
Al Jazeera did not immediately receive a response to requests for comment sent to Musk’s lawyer and several of his companies.
Musk’s politics have changed sharply since he publicly came out in support of Trump after the Republican narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in July.
Earlier this month, the billionaire hosted Alice Weidel, leader of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany, for a chat on his social media platform X after she endorsed his party in February’s national elections.
