Elon Musk has ignited online speculation over the meaning of a hand gesture he made during a celebratory rally in Washington on Monday. The billionaire entrepreneur extended his arm out with his palm facing down twice, drawing comparisons to the Nazi salute. During his speech at the Capital One Arena, Mr. Musk thanked the crowd for supporting President Trump and later repeated the motion, sparking concerns among some that it was a hate gesture.
Commentators and social media users drew parallels between the action and the infamous Nazi salute, which is widely regarded as a symbol of hatred and intolerance. However, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and other organizations quickly distanced themselves from Mr. Musk’s actions, calling them “awkward” and not a deliberate attempt at hate.
The ADL stated that Mr. Musk has been involved in antisemitic incidents in the past, making the gesture an “unmistakable symbol of hate.” Meanwhile, others saw the action as a harmless gesture or even a celebration of President Trump’s inauguration.
Despite the controversy, Mr. Musk did not respond to requests for comment and instead shared a post on X claiming that the “salute hoax” was part of a Democratic dirty tricks campaign against him. The billionaire’s speech continued with enthusiasm about his vision for humanity’s future, including safe cities, secure borders, and space exploration.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/20/us/politics/elon-musk-hand-gesture-speech.html