Elon Musk sparked controversy after an event following Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president, where his hand gesture was widely criticized and compared to a fascist salute. The moment occurred during Musk’s speech at a post-inauguration gathering held at the Capitol One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Musk, who has been a vocal supporter of Trump, began by thanking the audience for making the election outcome possible. As part of his address, he placed his hand over his heart, then extended his arm straight with his palm facing downward in what many interpreted as a rigid salute. He repeated the gesture while turning to face the crowd, leading to swift reactions from viewers.
The incident quickly garnered attention, with multiple news outlets such as CNN, Politico, and PBS NewsHour covering the event and questioning whether the gesture was intended to resemble the notorious Nazi or Roman military salute. On social media, the controversy spread rapidly, with some accusing Musk of intentionally invoking fascist symbolism, while others defended him, claiming the movement was simply an awkward gesture made in the heat of the moment.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an organization focused on combating anti-Semitism, responded to the incident by acknowledging the awkward nature of Musk’s gesture but emphasized that it did not appear to be a Nazi salute. The ADL urged people to consider Musk’s intent and show grace, encouraging the public to take a step back and seek unity rather than further division.
Despite the ADL’s statement, the debate raged on across social media platforms. U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was among those who criticized Musk’s action, calling out the ADL for downplaying the gesture and labeling it as a “Heil Hitler” salute. She questioned the ADL’s credibility, citing the severity of the gesture Musk had made.
Musk, who has openly supported Trump and contributed significantly to his 2024 presidential campaign, did not directly address the backlash. However, he did respond to the ADL’s post later with a brief message, thanking them for their perspective with a joyful emoji.
The controversy surrounding the incident has been compounded by Musk’s recent appointment by Trump to head the Department of Government Efficiency, an initiative intended to streamline the federal government. The department’s acronym, DOGE, raised eyebrows due to its association with the cryptocurrency Musk has frequently spoken about, adding yet another layer of intrigue to the already contentious relationship between Musk and the political establishment.
