“Historians and organisations weigh in on Musk’s viral gesture amid accusations of a Nazi salute and clarifications from his supporters.”
January 21, 2025: Elon Musk, the billionaire tech mogul and close ally of former President Donald Trump, has drawn significant online attention following a gesture made during a rally celebrating Trump’s inauguration. The event, held at Capitol One Arena in Washington, was marked by Musk’s passionate speech about what he described as a pivotal moment in human civilisation.
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“This was no ordinary victory. This was a fork in the road of human civilisation,” Musk declared. “Thank you for making it happen! Thank you.”
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DO NOT BELIEVE THE MEDIA
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) January 20, 2025
The media is misleading you. Elon Musk never did a Nazi salute. Watch the full video: He simply gestured and said, “Thank you, my heart goes out to you.” pic.twitter.com/e3vBaLoVqx
The moment that sparked controversy occurred when Musk placed his hand on his heart before extending his arm upward at an angle, palm down, with fingers together. The gesture, repeated toward the crowd behind him, quickly went viral, with many social media users and historians interpreting it as a Nazi salute.
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Divided Opinions
Historians Ruth Ben-Ghiat and Claire Aubin both identified the gesture as resembling a “sieg heil,” a salute associated with Nazi Germany. Aubin urged viewers to trust their instincts, stating, “You should believe your eyes.”
This is a delicate moment. It’s a new day and yet so many are on edge. Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety.
— ADL (@ADL) January 20, 2025
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…
However, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which has previously criticized Musk, defended the gesture, categorizing it as “awkward enthusiasm” rather than a deliberate Nazi salute. Historian Aaron Astor also backed Musk, stating, “This gesture is not a Nazi salute,” while acknowledging his criticisms of Musk’s past actions on social media.
Elon Musk just last year traveled with Ben Shapiro to Auschwitz and then Israel to learn about the Holocaust and Jewish history.
— Eyal Yakoby (@EYakoby) January 20, 2025
Anyone trying to portray him as a Nazi is intentionally misleading the public. It was a stupid hand gesture, not an intentional Nazi salute. pic.twitter.com/rUOZ0HWHNR
Some users pointed out Musk’s recent visit to Auschwitz and Israel to learn about the Holocaust and Jewish history, arguing that any attempt to portray him as a Nazi was misleading.
I can’t take some of you people seriously anymore. I swear, some of you are just looking for negativity in everything. 🤣 Elon Musk, who has Asperger’s and is on the autism spectrum, was simply excited and being goofy—yet some are claiming he did a Nazi salute. If that’s the… pic.twitter.com/S3z0svALgN
— DEL (@delinthecity_) January 20, 2025
The Online Reaction
Musk’s supporters and critics clashed online, with some sharing images of former leaders like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton making similar gestures in the past. Musk himself posted clips from his speech on his social media platform X, captioning it, “The future is so exciting.”
Context Matters
The debate over Musk’s gesture comes as he continues to draw criticism for his political affiliations. Recently, Musk expressed support for Alternative for Germany (AfD), a far-right, anti-immigration party labeled as extremist by German authorities.
The incident has reignited discussions on Musk’s influence and actions, with some calling for accountability while others dismiss the gesture as overanalyzed enthusiasm.
Tags:
Elon Musk controversy, Trump rally speech, viral gesture debate, Nazi salute accusations, Alternative for Germany support, political affiliations, online backlash.