Elon Musk has drawn widespread criticism for a one-armed gesture he made during a speech celebrating Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Speaking at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Musk, a close ally of President Trump, thanked the crowd for their support, placing his right hand over his heart before extending his arm straight ahead. He repeated the action for the audience behind him.
The gesture prompted immediate backlash on X, the social media platform Musk owns, with many likening it to a Nazi salute.
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In response to the criticism, Musk dismissed the accusations, posting: “Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired.”
Frankly, they need better dirty tricks.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2025
The “everyone is Hitler” attack is sooo tired ???? https://t.co/9fIqS5mWA0
Historians and experts weighed in on the controversy. Claire Aubin, a historian specializing in U.S. Nazism, described the gesture as a “sieg heil,” the Nazi salute. NYU history professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat concurred, calling it “a Nazi salute and a very belligerent one.”
Adding to the uproar, Andrea Stroppa, a Musk confidant with ties to far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, reportedly shared the clip with the caption: “Roman Empire is back starting from Roman salute.” The Roman salute, historically associated with Mussolini’s Fascist Party, was later adopted by Hitler. Stroppa later deleted the post, stating Musk’s gesture was a heartfelt expression misconstrued by critics.
Stroppa explained: “That gesture, which some mistook for a Nazi salute, is simply Elon, who has autism, expressing his feelings by saying, ‘I want to give my heart to you.’ ELON DISLIKES EXTREMISTS!”
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Musk, 53, has faced growing scrutiny over his increasingly right-leaning political positions, including statements supporting Germany’s far-right AfD party and Britain’s anti-immigration Reform UK party.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed the controversy at the World Economic Forum in Davos, saying: “We have freedom of speech in Europe and in Germany… but what we do not accept is support for extreme right positions.”
While critics condemned Musk’s gesture as inappropriate, the Anti-Defamation League defended him, posting on X: “It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute.”
Musk’s role in Trump’s administration, where he is set to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency, has further spotlighted his influence and polarizing political stance.
Watch what Elon Musk said and his gesture in the video below.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 20, 2025
