Elon Musk stirs up controversy with hand gesture at Trump event
X owner Elon Musk sparked controversy hours after Donald Trump was inaugurated as the country’s 47th president with a gesture during a speech that immediately drew comparisons to a fascist salute.
“Some elections are important, some are not, but this one really mattered. And I just want to thank you for making this possible. Thank you,” Musk said as he spoke from a podium covered with the presidential seal at a post-inauguration event held Monday at the Capitol One Arena in Washington, DC.
Musk then placed his hand over his heart before holding out his arm, straight and stiff with his palm down in a manner that resembled a Nazi or Roman military salute. He turned to look at the crowd behind him and made the same motion again before saying, “My heart goes out to you.”
CNN, Politico, PBS NewsHour and numerous foreign newspapers reported on the gesture and quickly questioned whether it was an intentional fascist salute. A lawyer for Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Anti-Defamation League, an organization dedicated to combating anti-Semitism, responded via
“It seems that [Elon Musk] made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again we appreciate people being on edge,” the ADL wrote on of doubt, and take a deep breath. This is a new beginning. Let us hope for healing and work towards unity in the months and years to come.”
Discussion of the incident quickly went viral on X and other social media platforms. Many expressed outrage, while others countered that Musk was being targeted by critics and had no intention of invoking fascism.
U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a liberal Democrat from New York, took to X, where she has 12.8 million followers, to criticize the ADL. She claimed there was no doubt about Musk’s intentions.
“To be clear, you are defending a Heil Hitler salute that was performed and repeated for emphasis and clarity,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote. “People can now officially stop listening to you as any form of reliable source of information. You work for them. Thank you for making that crystal clear to everyone.”
Musk, the world’s richest person, has been a staunch supporter of Trump and has contributed at least $250 million to his 2024 election efforts. He was highly visible at Trump’s swearing-in ceremony earlier in the day at the Capitol.
Trump has appointed Musk to lead an effort to streamline and reduce the size of the federal government, an initiative known as the Department of Government Efficiency. That decision also sparked controversy, as the acronym DOGE reflects a form of cryptocurrency that Musk has both touted and criticized in recent years.
