Musk’s Gesture at Trump Event Faces Nazi Salute Comparisons
Elon Musk’s hand gesture at Trump’s second inauguration sparks debate online, with some drawing comparisons to a Nazi salute. Musk calls criticism baseless.
image for illustrative purpose
A gesture made by Elon Musk during his speech at Donald Trump’s second presidential inauguration has ignited online controversy, with some comparing it to a Nazi salute. Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, addressed a crowd at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on January 20, 2025, where his actions were met with both applause and scrutiny.
As Musk stood at the podium, he raised his arms and shouted enthusiastically, "Yesssss," drawing cheers from the audience. He described the moment as a pivotal event for humanity, calling it a "fork in the road of human civilization." During his address, Musk placed his right hand over his heart with fingers spread wide before extending the arm outward at an upward angle, palm down and fingers together. He repeated the gesture toward the audience behind him, emphasizing his gratitude.
"My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured," Musk said, concluding his speech.
The gesture quickly became a topic of heated discussion on social media. Some users questioned whether Musk’s actions resembled a Nazi salute, with headlines such as “Did Elon Musk Sieg Heil at Trump’s Inauguration?” appearing in publications like the Jerusalem Post. However, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which monitors antisemitism, offered a different perspective.
“It seems that @elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute,” the ADL stated on its social media account. “We appreciate that people are vigilant, but context matters.”
Musk responded to the backlash on his platform, X, dismissing the accusations as baseless. “Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The 'everyone is Hitler' attack is sooo tired,” he posted late Monday. He also shared a video clip from Fox News that featured parts of his speech but did not show the controversial gesture.
Supporters of Musk defended him online, arguing that his actions were a sincere expression of gratitude. “The gesture clearly meant ‘my heart goes out to you,’” one user wrote, criticizing those who suggested otherwise.
The controversy comes amid Musk’s increasing involvement in political discourse. Earlier this month, he hosted a broadcast with the leader of Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on his social media platform. The AfD, known for its anti-immigration stance, has been classified as a right-wing extremist group by German security agencies.
A spokesperson for Trump’s team did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident.
