Elon Musk, the world’s richest man and a top aide to President Trump, has drawn and quickly rejected a series of condemnations from Democratic lawmakers, left-wing politicians abroad and others on the Internet after twice giving what looked like a Nazi salute from an inauguration stage.
Musk — who has endorsed anti-Semitic remarks and aligned himself with far-right factions, including the Alternative for Germany in this country — made the gestures during a giddy speech celebrating Trump’s return to the power during an indoor rally Monday at the Capital One Arena in Washington.
“I just want to thank you for making this possible. Thank you,” Musk told the crowd. He struck his chest with his right hand, then pulled that hand upward, open and flat and palm down, with his right arm rigidly extended.
He then turned around and made a similar gesture in the opposite direction. “My heart goes out to you,” he said.
Some defended Musk. The Anti-Defamation League, which fights anti-Semitism, gave Musk a free pass with a post on X – a platform Musk owns.
“It appears that (Musk) made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we understand that people are nervous,” the group said. “Right now, all parties should give themselves some grace, maybe even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath.”
Others strongly disagreed.
“Just to be clear, you are defending a Heil Hitler salute that has been performed and rehearsed for emphasis and clarity,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) wrote in response to the ADL post on
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) expressed shock at seeing Musk’s gesture at an inaugural event.
“I never imagined we would see the day when what appears to be a Heil Hitler salute would be made behind the presidential seal,” Nadler wrote on X.
These concerns were echoed by left-wing politicians across Europe and sparked a heated debate online – where people compared videos of Musk and Hitler side by side.
Others came to Musk’s defense. After an article on
“Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The “Everyone is Hitler” attack is so tired,” he wrote, before adding a sleeping face emoji.
Musk also suggested on X that the debate over his actions was evidence of “legacy media propaganda.”
On Tuesday, the issue was raised again – in Congress.
During a confirmation hearing for Trump’s nominee for United Nations ambassador, Elise Stefanik, Senator Christopher S. Murphy (D-Connecticut) asked her what she thought of Musk “doing two bows.” Heil Hitler” last night during the president’s televised rally? »
“No. Elon Musk did not make those greetings,” Stefanik said. She said Musk liked to cheer for Trump and was a visionary.
It’s “simply not true” that Musk made Nazi salutes, she said. “And to put it bluntly, the American people are smart – they see clearly. They support Elon Musk.
Murphy then noted that neo-Nazis and other far-right extremists and white supremacists across the country had made it clear online that they believed Musk had made Nazi salutes — which they had approved of and thanked – and asked Stefanik what she thought.
Stefanik criticized Murphy for asking the question and said she and Trump have strong records of combating anti-Semitism.
