Tesla CEO Elon Musk faced immediate backlash on Monday for a gesture he made while addressing a crowd at a Donald Trump inauguration event, renewing attention to his past antisemitic remarks and his far-right beliefs.
After effusively thanking the crowd at the Capital One Arena for electing Trump, Musk — a close ally of the president and the head of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency — placed his right hand on his chest and stretched his arm outward, his palm facing the ground. He then turned around and repeated the gesture before placing his hand on his chest again.
“My heart goes out you,” he said. “It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured.”
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 20, 2025
That moment in Musk’s speech circulated quickly — as did the backlash. Many took the gesture as a fascist salute adopted by the Nazis in the early 20th century and one that neo-Nazis continue to use today. It also drew intense criticism from several left-leaning politicians in Europe. And, as Rolling Stone reported, multiple far-right figures and groups have cheered Musk’s gesture online.
Others were quick to jump to Musk’s defense. Some prominent figures have attributed it to his Asperger’s syndrome diagnosis, which Musk has spoken openly about. The Anti-Defamation League, which came under fire last year for what employees said was its CEO’s apparent elevation of pro-Israel advocacy over combating antisemitism, called it an “awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute.”
“In this moment, all sides should give one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath,” the ADL said in its statement. Musk did not respond to NBC News’ request for comment. On social media, he has not contended with the backlash against his gesture, instead suggesting the angry reactions are part of a Democratic-led hoax. “Frankly, they need better dirty tricks,” Musk wrote in a post on X, referencing his past claim that Democrats are orchestrating a “campaign” against him. “The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired.” Musk has faced scrutiny for his alignment with far-right figures and his promotion of antisemitic conspiracy theories in the past. He has boosted the racist and antisemitic “great replacement” theory on X; allowed far-right extremist accounts to proliferate on the platform; spread conspiracies about the 2024 election and national tragedies; and more recently, voiced support for Germany’s far-right, anti-immigrant political party, Alternative for Germany, as part of his efforts to exert his influence on European politics.
Clarissa-Jan Lim is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW. She was previously a senior reporter and editor at BuzzFeed News.
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