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Elon Musk gesture controversy

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Musk repeating a gesture at the second inauguration of Donald Trump before saying, "My heart goes out to you."[1] The gesture was interpreted by critics of Musk as a Nazi salute.

On January 20, 2025, while speaking at a rally celebrating U.S. president Donald Trump's second inauguration, businessman and political figure Elon Musk twice made a gesture interpreted by critics of Musk as a Nazi salute. This event caused significant criticism from media outlets, politicians and organizations internationally. Multiple European political parties demanded that Musk be banned from entering their countries. Some, most notably the Anti-Defamation League (a Jewish organization), defended Musk and argued that the gesture carried no significant meaning, even as Neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups celebrated the gestures. On his social media platform Twitter, Musk dismissed the accusations of Nazi sympathies and derided them as being politicized,[2][3][4] describing them as a "tired" attack.[5][6]

Inauguration, speech and gestures

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On January 20, 2025, the second inauguration of Donald Trump took place after his victory in 2024 United States presidential election. Many people were invited, including Elon Musk.[7] Musk was influential to Trump's campaign as the second-largest donor. Trump designated him to co-head the Department of Government Efficiency to help during Trump's presidency.[8][9]

After the inauguration, Musk attended a celebratory rally at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., where he thanked the attendees for voting for Trump.[10] Musk jumped onto the stage, started throwing his hands in the air, and then began to dance.[11] After he finished dancing, Musk placed his hand to his heart and extended his arm out above his head with his palm facing down, making a straight-arm gesture. He then turned around and repeated the gesture to the audience behind him.[10][12] He then said: "My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured" after he finished the gestures.[12]

Reaction by Musk and his family

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Elon Musk responded to criticism of his alleged salute on January 21 on his X account, including calling all news outlets criticizing him biased. He wrote: "The legacy media is pure propaganda" and "they need better dirty tricks" and "the 'everyone is Hitler' attack is sooo tired".[5][13] Following the description of the incident on his Wikipedia page as a Nazi salute, Musk returned to his previous attacks against the platform, calling for its defunding.[14][15] On January 23, three days after the incident, Musk made a series of Nazi-themed puns on social media as a reaction to the controversy, which the Anti-Defamation League (after previously defending his behavior) called "offensive" and "inappropriate".[16]

Musk's daughter Vivian Wilson spoke out about Musk's gesture, stating "I'm just gonna say let's call a spade a f***ing spade" on Instagram's Threads platform on January 21.[17] Musk's ex-girlfriend, Canadian musician Grimes, with whom he has three children, also distanced herself from Musk in response to the growing backlash against his gestures after defending him regarding other controversies just a few days before.[18][19] Elon Musk's father, Errol, and sister, Tosca, defended Musk. Errol called the accusations against Elon "absolute nonsense" and "rubbish".[20][21]

On January 29, Musk had said that he will sue Tim Walz, governor of Minnesota, for accusing him of doing Nazi salutes.[22] He also said that he plans of suing media outlets that called his gestures Nazi.[23] According to Musk's lawyers, they are ready to file a defamation lawsuit, seeking compensation for what they claim to be a misleading and harmful statements.[24]

Reactions

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Reactions in the United States

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The incident quickly sparked online comparisons to Adolf Hitler's salute, while others saw it as a Roman salute, also referred to as the "Fascist salute".[10][25] While watching the rally, CNN anchor Erin Burnett said that the action was "striking".[10] Some commentators have blamed the gesture on Musk's diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome,[26][27][28] an assertion that many autistic people and therapists have rejected.[29][30] Musk has also never been medically diagnosed with the syndrome.[31]

In an article for The New York Times, Berlin bureau chief Katrin Bennhold wrote "it looked a lot like the salute used in Germany and fascist Italy" but that "a striking number of different interpretations began to circulate", also drawing comparisons to the Bellamy salute.[32] Scott Jennings, an American political strategist and CNN contributor condemned critics who accused Musk of doing a Nazi salute. He stated that Musk's critics are "suffering from progression of Trump Derangement Syndrome," however Jennings repeatedly refused offers to perform Musk's salute live on air leading to widespread ridicule. He also said that all controversies surrounding Musk are conspiracy theories.[33][34]

A placard in New York City imploring the reader to "stand up" and "fight back"

Many users on X, the social media platform which Musk owns, criticized the gesture saying it resembled a Nazi salute.[35] In response to the gestures, many major subreddits on Reddit instituted new rules banning links to or screenshots of X posts.[2][36] Sam Kuffel, a meteorologist at CBS 58 in Milwaukee, was fired after she criticized the gesture in two Instagram posts.[37] Laura Smith, the Towamencin Township Supervisor in Pennsylvania resigned after posting a TikTok video of her appearing to replicate Musk's gesture that was later deleted.[38]

The Anti-Defamation League initially came to Musk's defense, stating in an X post: "It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute."[39] However, former ADL national director Abraham Foxman described the gesture as a "Heil Hitler Nazi salute".[40] Aaron Astor, a history professor at Tennessee's Maryville College, defended the ADL's stance on X, stating that it was "not a Nazi salute".[41][42] Southern Poverty Law Center, a 501(c)(3) specializing in civil rights, referred to it as an "apparent Nazi salute" and noted it had "ignited a firestorm of controversy".[43] Several academics specialized on extremism and related fields have also agreed as describing the gesture as a Nazi salute.[41][44][45] The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention responded to the "Nazi salute" by issuing a red flag alert for genocide in the United States.[46]

Jerry Nadler, a Jewish Democratic congressman from Manhattan, called the gesture antisemitic.[47] Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive Democratic congresswoman, condemned Musk's gestures and accused him of Nazism.[48][49] Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene defended Musk. She accused news outlets of lying about him and spreading "propaganda to serve the Democrat party".[50] Republican representative Elise Stefanik, Trump's nominee to serve as ambassador to the United Nations, defended Musk at her confirmation hearing.[51][52][53]

Reactions from white nationalist and neo-Nazi groups

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Numerous white nationalist and neo-Nazi figures and movements expressed support for Musk's gestures. Christopher Pohlhaus, leader of the neo-Nazi group Blood Tribe, posted on Telegram, "I don't care if this was a mistake. I'm going to enjoy the tears over it." Andrew Torba, founder of the far-right social media platform Gab, said "Incredible things are happening already lmao".[54][55]

A Proud Boys chapter posted a clip of Musk's video to its Telegram channel with the text, "Hail Trump!".[56] White supremacist movement White Lives Matter also reacted to Musk's gestures in Telegram with the message: "Thanks for (sometimes) hearing us, Elon. The White Flame will rise again!".[57] Thomas Sewell, an Australian neo-Nazi posted a video of Musks' gestures describing it as a "Donald Trump White Power moment".[58] Nick Fuentes, founder of the white nationalist group the Groypers, described the gesture as "straight up like 'Sieg Heil', like loving Hitler energy".[59]

Reaction from Jewish groups and Holocaust survivors

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In Canada, Holocaust survivor David Moskovic stated he was alarmed by Musk's salute.[60] Amy Spitalnick, the CEO of Jewish Council for Public Affairs said that Musk's gestures may act as a spur for violent extremists. She stated, "the salute itself should be enough to warrant condemnation and attention", she added, "the ways extremists see an action like this and take it as license for their own violent extremism".[61] Jewish organizations in the US and Canada announced that they would be leaving Twitter.[62]

International reactions

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Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, defended Musk on X, stating that Musk "is being falsely smeared", and calling him "a great friend of Israel".[63][64]

Following Musk's speech, Andrea Stroppa, Musk's representative in Italy, posted the image of him on X along with the caption, "Roman Empire is back, starting with the Roman salute." Later, he removed the post, stating that Musk "is autistic" and that he was just expressing his feelings without emulating fascism.[4] An Italian communist youth organization, Cambiare Rotta, hung a doll of Musk upside down in Piazzale Loreto, a square in Milan where Mussolini's body was hung upside down by partisans after he was executed during the final days of World War II.[4] Italian journalist Roberto Saviano attacked Elon Musk in a Facebook post, stating: "The end of all this will be violent. His fall will be equal to that of those to whom it historically refers with this gesture. Musk will fall at the hands of those he now incites fueled by the same violence he practices."[65]

The German party The Left called for Musk to be banned from entering Germany, citing both the gestures and Musk's past support for Germany's far-right AfD party and his continued interference in European politics.[66] Austria's Green Party also called for a similar ban.[67] Austrian green politician Lukas Hammer called both Interior and Foreign Ministries to consider the possibility of denying Musk's entry.[68] When asked about the incident, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that Europe will not accept supporting extreme-right positions. Musk reacted to the remarks on X by mocking Scholz.[69][70] Michel Friedman, a German-French publicist and former deputy chair of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, described Musk's gestures as a "disgrace" and said Musk had shown that a "dangerous point for the entire free world" had been reached.[70]

British anti-Brexit activist group, Led By Donkeys, projected an image of Musk's gesture onto the Tesla Gigafactory in the city of Berlin with the phrase "Heil Tesla",[71][72] and used it in a YouTube video about Musk's political views.[73] Later, the German law enforcement launched an investigation into the image projected by the group, stating that it may have breached German laws on the use of symbols linked to illegal organizations.[74]

Yolanda Díaz, the Spanish minister of labor and longtime member of the Communist Party of Spain, announced that she would quit using X in response to the gesture. She also accused Musk of turning X into "propaganda mechanism".[65][75]

Alexander Lukashenko, president of Belarus, condemned Musk, stating: "They cannot say anything to justify it. This is an open Nazi salute, the Americans and Mr Musk have simply taken this too far." Lukashenko also stated: "Why do you go on stage and do the Hitler salute in front of millions of people? Are you doing anyone good? We, together with the Americans, fought against it. It's just nuts."[76]

Argentina's President Javier Milei defended Musk at the World Economic Forum's meeting in the city of Davos, Milei stated that his "dear friend Musk" has been "unfairly vilified by 'wokeism' in recent hours for an innocent gesture that only means his gratitude to the people". He also said: "I must say, forums like this one have been protagonists and promoters of the sinister agenda of 'wokeism' that is doing so much harm to the West."[77][78]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Elon Musk's gesture at Trump rally draws scrutiny". BBC News. January 21, 2025.
  2. ^ a b Gerken, Tom (January 23, 2025). "Over 100 Reddit groups ban X links in protest at Musk arm gesture". BBC News. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  3. ^ Wickman, Kase (January 21, 2025). "Elon Musk Sure Isn't Denying That His Inaugural Gesture Was a Nazi Salute". Vanity Fair. Retrieved January 25, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c Condon, Bernard (January 22, 2025). "Musk's straight-arm gesture embraced by right-wing extremists regardless of what he meant". Associated Press.
  5. ^ a b Fortinsky, Sarah (January 21, 2025). "Musk on salute blowback: 'Frankly, they need better dirty tricks'". The Hill.
  6. ^ "What Elon Musk's Salute Was All About". The New York Times. January 24, 2025.
  7. ^ Pequeño, Antonio IV (January 20, 2025). "Trump's Surprise Billionaire Guests: Bernard Arnault And Mukesh Ambani Attend Inauguration Events". Forbes. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  8. ^ Durkee, Alison (October 25, 2024). "Elon Musk Is Now Trump's 2nd-Biggest Financial Backer: Donates Nearly $120 Million To Super PAC". Forbes. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  9. ^ Garrett, Luke (December 5, 2024). "Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy take their DOGE government efficiency pitch to the Hill". NPR. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d Mac, Ryan (January 20, 2025). "Elon Musk Ignites Online Speculation Over the Meaning of a Hand Gesture". The New York Times. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  11. ^ "Elon Musk responds to 'Nazi salute' row, says opponents need 'better dirty tricks'". Hindustan Times. January 22, 2025. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  12. ^ a b Timmons, Heather; Brice, Makini; Chambers, Madeline; Singh, Kanishka (January 21, 2025). "Musk's hand gesture during Trump inauguration festivities draws scrutiny". Reuters. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  13. ^ Verma, Pranshu; Silverman, Ellie; Pietsch, Bryan (January 22, 2025). "Elon Musk's inauguration salute stokes debate in Congress, Europe". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  14. ^ Singh, Rimjhim (January 23, 2025). "'Defund until': Elon Musk slams Wikipedia over 'Nazi salute' claim". Business Standard. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  15. ^ Sherratt, Madeline (January 22, 2025). "Elon Musk furious after Wikipedia page calls his controversial gesture a 'Nazi salute'". The Independent. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  16. ^ Fortinsky, Sarah (January 23, 2025). "ADL, which had defended Musk, takes issue with his Nazi puns". The Hill. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  17. ^ Lubin, Rhian (January 27, 2025). "Elon Musk's daughter gives fiery response to 'Nazi salute' accusations". The Independent. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  18. ^ Tinoco, Armando (January 21, 2025). "Grimes Reacts To Elon Musk Backlash After Controversial Nazi-Like Gesture: 'I Am Not Him'". Deadline. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  19. ^ Wong, Curtis (January 22, 2025). "Elon Musk's Ex Grimes Speaks Out Following His Controversial Salute". HuffPost. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
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  21. ^ Derra Adolphus, Emell (January 24, 2025). "Musk Sister's Sex-Positive Streamer Suffers After His Salute". The Daily Beast. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  22. ^ "Elon Musk says that he will sue "creepy" Tim Walz after Nazi salutes comment". Times of India. January 29, 2025.
  23. ^ Craig, Sean (January 29, 2025). "Elon Musk's Mom Urges Him to Sue Media Over Salute Coverage". Daily Beast.
  24. ^ Munene, Kelvin (January 29, 2025). "Elon Musk to Sue Governor Tim Walz Over Nazi Salute Allegation". Analytics Insight.
  25. ^ Smith, Jillian (January 21, 2025). "What is a Roman salute? Term trends after Elon Musk's gesture at Trump Inauguration Parade". Fox 5 Washington DC. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
  26. ^ Lim, Clarissa-Jan (January 22, 2025). "Elon Musk condemned for gesture resembling a Nazi salute at Trump inauguration event". MSNBC. Retrieved January 29, 2025. [The article includes links to the posts by Batya Ungar-Sargon and Rabbi Shmuel Reichman]
  27. ^ Ingrid Jacques (January 23, 2025). "Elon is Hitler? Liberals regress to cancel culture to compensate for their loss. Opinion". USA Today. Retrieved January 27, 2025. (...) So doesn't it seem a bit hypocritical that it's the left mocking Musk, who has openly discussed how he's dealt with Asperger's syndrome, which is a form of autism? (...)
  28. ^ Chad de Guzman (January 23, 2025). "Elon Musk Comments on Controversial Clip of Him Giving a Straight-Arm Salute". Time. Retrieved January 27, 2025. Aaron Astor, a history professor at Maryville College in Tennessee, posted: 'This is a socially awkward autistic man's wave to the crowd where he says "my heart goes out to you."' (Musk has previously disclosed that he has Asperger's syndrome, also known as autism spectrum disorder.) Newsweek opinion editor Batya Ungar-Sargon offered a similar explanation, adding: 'We don't need to invent outrage.'
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  30. ^ Broadwater, Ashley (January 23, 2025). "Some Are Excusing Elon Musk's Disturbing Salute As Autism — And Autistic People Have Thoughts". HuffPost. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
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  38. ^ Fallon Roth (January 25, 2025). "A Montgomery County official mimicked Elon Musk's controversial 'salute,' sparking outrage online and her resignation from the local library and a nonprofit". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved January 27, 2025. Laura Smith, a Towamencin supervisor, said she posted the TikTok to 'stir the pot.' She has since resigned from a library board and a nonprofit.
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  52. ^ Chris Murphy, Elise Stefanik (January 21, 2025). 'Elon Musk did not do those salutes': Stefanik defends Musk during confirmation hearing (Internet video). NBC News. Retrieved January 24, 2025. [Video description:] Elise Stefanik, President Trump's nominee to serve as ambassador to the United Nations, defended Elon Musk's gesture that many interpreted as a Nazi salute, when questioned by Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.
  53. ^ Julia Mueller (January 21, 2025). "Stefanik, Murphy clash over Musk gesture at confirmation hearing". The Hill. Retrieved January 24, 2025.
  54. ^ Heller, Mathilda (January 21, 2025). "Musk was seen making the gesture twice on live television". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
  55. ^ Gilbert, David (January 20, 2025). "Neo-Nazis Love the Nazi-Like Salutes Elon Musk Made at Trump's Inauguration". Wired. Retrieved January 29, 2025.
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  66. ^ Strauß, Hagen (January 22, 2025). "'Unterstützer der extremen Rechten': Linke will Einreisesperre für Elon Musk" ['Supporter of the Extreme Right': Die Linke calls for Entry Ban for Elon Musk]. Rheinische Post (in German). Retrieved January 22, 2025.
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