Elon Musk at Trump inauguration rally: Awkward stiff arm gesture goes viral
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Editor's note: This story has been updated to meet our standards
Elon Musk has garnered a viral outpouring of judgement and scrutiny on social media over a one-armed gesture he made during a post-inauguration rally yesterday.
The billionaire spoke at Trump's inauguration day rally and pumped his arms, paced the stage and said he was excited about the president's re-election.
"This was no ordinary victory, this was a fork in the road," said Musk. "Elections come and go, some are important and some are not, but this one really mattered."
In what appeared to be a heartfelt moment, thanking the crowd for "making it happen," Musk put his hand over his heart and then thrust it out into the air. He turned around, and did it a second time to those behind him.
"My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured," he said after the second salute.
The backlash on social media was immediate, including his platform X. Some users likened his salute to the Seig Heil salute, used as a greeting in Nazi Germany.
According to news reports, historian Claire Aubin who specializes in Nazism within the United States, and New York University history professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat, both concurred and called the gesture a Nazi salute.
In response, Musk posted on X: "Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The 'everyone is Hitler' attack is sooo tired."
Also defending Musk, the Anti-Defamation League, a leading antisemitism watchdog, said Monday that he made an “awkward gesture” on Inauguration Day that did not appear to be a Nazi salute.
In their own social media post on X, the ADL wrote:
"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. 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. In this moment, all sides should give one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath. This is a new beginning. Let’s hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years ahead."
The tech executive, who is the CEO of companies including SpaceX, Tesla, and X, heads President Donald Trump's Department of Governmental Efficiency. DOGE is an advisory commission created to recommend federal spending cuts and regulations for elimination.