Musk Faces Allegations of Offensive Gesture at Trump Event

Musk Faces Allegations of Offensive Gesture at Trump Event.

The Anti-Defamation League supports the technology billionaire for exhibiting an ‘awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm’.

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has faced criticism following his use of hand gestures that appeared to mimic the Nazi salute during a speech commemorating Donald Trump's presidential inauguration.

While speaking to Trump supporters shortly after the Republican was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States on Monday, Musk described the result of the November 4 election as “no ordinary victory.”

“This was a fork in the road of human civilisation,” Musk said at the Capital One Arena in Washington, DC.

“This one really mattered. Thank you for making it happen! Thank you.”

Musk subsequently placed his right hand on his chest before raising his arm at an upward angle, with his palm facing downward and fingers held together.

The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, appointed to head the newly established Department of Government Efficiency in the Trump administration, subsequently turned to address the audience behind him and replicated the gesture.

Musk's actions quickly attracted criticism on social media, with several users alleging that he was performing the notorious Sieg Heil salute linked to Adolf Hitler.

“I never imagined we would see the day when what appears to be a Heil Hitler salute would be made behind the Presidential seal,” Jerry Nadler, a Democratic congressman from New York, said in a post on X.

“This abhorrent gesture has no place in our society and belongs in the darkest chapters of human history. I urge all of my colleagues to unite in condemning this hateful gesture for what it is: antisemitism.”

Musk's action, which was commended by several neo-Nazis in the United States, also attracted notice in the Israeli press. The newspaper Haaretz remarked that Musk seemed to have performed a "'Roman salute,' a fascist gesture primarily linked to Nazi Germany."

In addressing the controversy, Musk remarked that his detractors required “better dirty tricks”.

“The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired,” Musk said in an X post that included a sleepy face emoji.

‘Not a Nazi salute’

Certain individuals and organizations have come to Musk's defense, including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a leading organization committed to combating anti-Semitism.

The New York-based organization, which has been criticized for equating criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism, stated that it appeared the billionaire had made 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 a post on X.

“This is a new beginning. Let’s hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years ahead.”

Max Kaiser, the executive officer of the Jewish Council of Australia, expressed his conviction that Musk had clearly performed a Nazi salute and condemned the Anti-Defamation League for supporting the billionaire.

“It was a clear signal to his rabid white nationalist and neo-Nazi followers that he aligns with their values,” Kaiser told Al Jazeera.

“His platform ‘X’ is well known for promoting racist neo-Nazi content and he has recently endorsed the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) German political party. We should all be very concerned that the right-hand man of the most powerful person in the world is a Nazi.

The ADL continue to disgrace themselves by defending Musk’s gesture while baselessly attacking expressions of pro-Palestinian solidarity as anti-Semitic. ”

Musk's political stance has notably veered to the right since he expressed his support for Trump following the Republican's narrow escape from an assassination attempt in July.

Earlier this month, the billionaire engaged in a discussion with AfD leader Alice Weidel on his social media platform X, having previously endorsed her party for the national elections in February.

Elon Musk's controversial gesture and dismissive response have only deepened concerns about his alignment with far-right ideologies and his growing influence within the Trump administration. His engagement with extremist political figures and the promotion of divisive rhetoric on his platform, X, signal a troubling shift in his public persona.

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Critics argue that his actions, coupled with the support from groups like the ADL, demonstrate a dangerous normalization of behavior that panders to white nationalist sentiments. As Musk continues to wield significant power, his actions risk further polarizing society and undermining efforts to combat hate and discrimination worldwide.