During a speech at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., celebrating President Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, Elon Musk made a gesture that has sparked widespread controversy. While expressing gratitude to the audience, Musk placed his right hand over his heart and then extended his arm outward with his palm facing down, repeating the action toward different sections of the crowd. This movement drew immediate comparisons to the Nazi salute, leading to significant backlash.
Historians and commentators weighed in on the gesture’s implications. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a history professor at New York University, stated, “It was a Nazi salute and a very belligerent one too.”
Conversely, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) suggested that Musk’s action was likely “an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute,” acknowledging the heightened sensitivities of the current political climate.
In response to the criticism, Musk addressed the issue on his social media platform, X, stating, “Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired.”
This incident has intensified discussions about the responsibilities of public figures in their expressions and the interpretations of their actions, especially in politically charged environments.