Elon Musk sparks backlash with Nazi-like gesture at Trump inauguration
He gave two straight arm salutes at the event in Washington DC The post Elon Musk sparks backlash with Nazi-like gesture at Trump inauguration appeared first on NME.
Elon Musk has courted controversy for seemingly giving a Nazi-like gesture during a speech at President Donald Trump‘s inauguration in Washington DC.
The tech billionaire and CEO of SpaceX and Tesla was appointed by the new POTUS to lead his new Department Of Government Efficiency following Trump’s historic US election win last November.
When speaking at a celebratory event at the Capital One Arena yesterday (January 20), Musk expressed his happiness over Trump re-entering the White House. “I just want to say thank you for making it happen,” he said.
The X/Twitter owner then slapped his chest with his right hand, and flung his arm up diagonally upwards. Musk turned around to crowd members behind the podium before repeating the gesture.
With his palm back on his chest, he added: “My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilisation is assured.”
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 20, 2025
Billionaire Elon Musk gave what appeared to be a fascist salute Monday while making a speech at the post-inauguration celebration for President Donald Trump at the Capital One Arena.
“Some elections are important, some are not. But this one, this one really mattered and I just… pic.twitter.com/K8Fo0sdozL
— PBS News (@NewsHour) January 20, 2025
The future is so exciting!! https://t.co/TjuDeRNaul
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 20, 2025
However, many have compared the gesture to a Nazi salute signalling obedience to Adolf Hitler. Posting a video of the moment (watch above), PBS News noted Musk giving “what appeared to be a fascist salute” in his speech.
Elsewhere, CNN anchor Erin Burnett drew attention to the move during live coverage of the event, with co-anchor Kasie Hunt saying that the gesture was “not something that you typically see in American political rallies” (via Time).
Musician and environmental activist Bill Madden wrote on X/Twitter: “If giving the Nazi ‘Sieg Heil’ salute was an Olympic event like gymnastics, Elon Musk would’ve received a perfect score of 10. Musk even nailed the facial expression. Seriously, Hitler would be jealous.”
In a video on his Instagram Stories, Finneas said: “Elon Musk just did a Nazi salute. So… that’s where we’re at.”
Musk has not responded formally, but agreed with a tweet that read: “Can we please retire the calling people a Nazi thing? It didn’t work during the election, it’s not working now, it’s tired, boring, and old material, you’ve burned out its effect, people don’t feel shocked by it anymore, the wolf has been cried too many times.”
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