Just two months after Elon Musk’s speech at President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the effects of what some interpreted as Musk performing a Nazi salute have made waves across the cultural landscape.
On Jan. 20, Musk stood on stage at Capital One Arena in downtown Washington, D.C. to express his gratitude to the crowd for their support of Trump’s campaign.
He then paused, put his hand over his heart and extended his arm toward the crowd in front of him, then toward the crowd behind him.
This gesture sparked controversy due to its resemblance to the Roman salute, also known as the Hitler Salute.
History Extra, the official website of BBC History Magazine, explained that although the name references Rome, the salute gained prominence during the 18th century in France and then in Italy when fascist leader Benito Mussolini began using it in the 1920s.
Since then, it has become a symbol of extremist movements across the world, most notably, the Nazi movement in the 1940s.
Many decades later, Musk made a gesture reminiscent of the one used as a sign of hate but immediately followed it with, “My heart goes out to you,” once he began speaking in the microphone again with his hand returning to his chest.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, who Trump nominated to serve as ambassador to the United Nations, defended Musk.
“Elon Musk did not do those salutes. I’ve been at many rallies with Elon who loves to cheer,” she said as she gestured with her hands, seemingly alluding to the idea that Musk simply talks with his hands frequently.
Conservative media personality Charlie Kirk also came to Musk’s defense calling the claims of Musk’s motion being a Nazi salute “ridiculous.”
“These people are so thirsty for controversy and racism—that doesn’t exist—it’s astounding,” Kirk wrote on a post on X
Leilani Bacchas, a sophomore television and film major, English minor from Staten Island, New York is not as convinced.
“If people are actually trying to defend him, saying that wasn’t the Nazi salute, a gesture that inspires fear and hatred for all marginalized groups, I can’t imagine what this country is becoming,” she said.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a group focused on ending defamation of all Jewish people, released a statement on Musk’s social media platform “X” the day after his speech.
“It seems that @elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge. At this moment, all sides should give one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt” the group said.
The Simon Wiesenthal Center, a global Jewish human rights activist organization, responded differently, explaining that Musk’s actions “raised serious concerns” in a statement posted to their website.
“It would be appropriate for him to clarify or apologize for today’s gesture and focus his energy on tackling the critical challenges ahead,” the organization said.
In the statement, they also mention Musk’s recent support of a far-right German political party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which has been known to hold xenophobic, Islamophobia and anti-democratic views.
Musk responded to the backlash through a series of posts on X.
“Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The “everyone is Hitler” attack is sooo tired,” he said in a post hours after his inauguration-day appearance.
Many of his subsequent posts contained jokes about Democrats and radical leftists.
Since the incident, other right-wing pundits have faced criticism for similar actions.
Steve Bannon, former senior counselor and chief White House strategist during Trump’s first term and a far-right influencer, made a similar movement that created a stir among the public.
Bannon assured the public that the gesture was a “wave to the crowd.”
These two instances are the ones most reported on but not the only instances of the controversial salute being done in recent months.
Social media personality Adin Ross made a similar gesture at a meet and greet with young fans.
“Sorry to those I have failed,” he said in an apology he released after receiving backlash.
Eduardo Verástegui, a Mexican actor, directly referenced Musk’s speech by doing the same motion and saying the same words that Musk did at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland.
“My heart goes out to all of you,” Verástegui said as he mimicked Musk’s gesture.
Copy edited by Aniyah Genama
