Elon Musk’s Trump rally gestures ignited controversy after he made a one-armed gesture at a post-inauguration rally celebrating Donald Trump’s inauguration. Must thanked the crowd and thrust his arm out straight ahead of him.
Many on social media platform X likened the gesture to a Nazi salute. Historians Claire Aubin and Ruth Ben-Ghiat condemned the gesture. Aubin called it a sieg heil, while Ben-Ghiat described it as a very belligerent Nazi salute.
Andrea Stroppa, a close confidant of Musk, initially posted a clip of the gesture with the caption Roman Empire is back starting from Roman salute. However, he later deleted it and defended Musk.
Musk responded to the backlash, posting on X, Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The “everyone is Hitler” attack is so tiring. The Anti-Defamation League defended Musk, stating that his gesture seemed awkward rather than intentional.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz commented on the incident, emphasizing that while freedom of speech is valued, supporting extreme right positions is not acceptable. Musk’s politics have shifted to the right, with recent statements supporting Germany’s far-right AfD party and British anti-immigration party Reform UK.
As one of Trump’s closest allies, Musk has been tapped to co-lead the Department of Government Efficiency. The controversy surrounding Musk’s gesture has sparked a heated debate. Furthermore, Musk’s involvement with far-right groups has raised concerns.
In addition, Musk’s ownership of X has led to concerns about the spread of misinformation. The platform has been criticized for its lack of moderation. Musk’s response to the backlash has been seen as dismissive by some.
Elon Musk’s Trump rally gesture continues to draw criticism and defense. It highlighted the need for responsible leadership and awareness of the impact of one’s actions.
