Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of Tesla, SpaceX, and Twitter, ignited a firestorm of controversy on Monday when he appeared to deliver back-to-back fascist-style salutes during a speech at Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration celebrations in Washington D.C.
The shocking gesture occurred as Musk took the stage at the Capitol One Arena to address Trump supporters. “I just want to say thank you for making it happen,” Musk said, before slapping his right hand to his chest and then extending his arm outward at an upward angle, with fingers together and palm facing down – a pose strikingly similar to the Nazi salute.
As the crowd roared in approval, Musk turned and repeated the salute a second time, his arm and hand positioned slightly lower. “My heart goes out to you,” he declared. “It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured. Thanks to you.”
Musk References Controversial ‘Doge’ Department in Speech
The tech mogul went on to reference the Department of Government Efficiency, or “Doge,” a federal cost-cutting initiative to which he was appointed by Trump. The name is a nod to the Dogecoin cryptocurrency that Musk has heavily promoted.
“We’re gonna have safe cities, finally safe cities. Secure borders, sensible spending. Basic stuff,” Musk said. “And we’re gonna take ‘Doge’ to Mars.” This was an apparent reference to Trump’s inaugural address pledge to send American astronauts to the red planet.
Musk mimed planting a flag on another world, shouting “Bam! Bam!” as he did so. The speech took place ahead of Trump’s scheduled appearance at the arena for indoor inaugural parade events, moved from outside due to cold weather.
Social Media Erupts Over ‘Nazi Salute’ Gesture
Musk’s hand gesture immediately sparked outrage and disbelief across social media. “My God … Musk just did the N[a]zi salute live on TV,” tweeted Eric Feigl-Ding, a prominent public health expert. Others described it as a “Roman salute” or “fascist salute most commonly associated with Nazi Germany.”
The tech billionaire did not immediately comment on the controversy. However, the incident is likely to heighten scrutiny of Musk’s apparent far-right leanings and connections.
Musk’s Ties to Global Far-Right Raise Eyebrows
Just last week, Musk hosted Alice Weidel, leader of Germany’s far-right AFD party, on Twitter for a friendly chat in which they agreed that Adolf Hitler was actually a “communist” and “socialist guy.” Weidel’s party has been widely accused of promoting Nazi-era revisionist history.
Musk is also a longtime supporter and advisor to Trump, who has faced frequent comparisons to Hitler and accusations of white supremacism. Ironically, Trump’s own vice president JD Vance once made such comparisons himself, before later changing his tune upon entering Republican politics.
Defining the Nazi Salute
The fascist salute that Musk appeared to make is described by the Anti-Defamation League as “raising an outstretched right arm with the palm facing downward.” In Nazi Germany between 1933-1945, it was often accompanied by saying “Heil Hitler” or “Sieg Heil.”
Since World War Two, neo-Nazis and other white supremacists have continued to use the salute, making it the most common white supremacist hand sign in the world.
– The Anti-Defamation League
Crypto Community Reacts
Musk’s apparent use of the gesture is sending shockwaves through the crypto world, where he holds immense sway as the richest person on Earth and a major booster for Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and other digital currencies. Crypto Twitter erupted with a mix of disbelief, anger, and disappointment at the tech icon.
Some Musk supporters attempted to downplay the salutes as unintentional or taken out of context. But for many, the damage was done. “There’s no mistaking what that gesture means, especially from someone like Musk,” one dismayed Dogecoin investor tweeted. “He knows exactly what he’s signaling.”
Fears of Normalizing Hate
Civil rights advocates expressed grave concerns that Musk’s actions could contribute to normalizing fascist symbolism and far-right extremism. With his massive platform and influence, they argue, comes a responsibility to avoid amplifying hate.
Whether or not it was meant as an explicit endorsement, flashing Nazi-style salutes in any context emboldens those who traffic in antisemitism and white supremacy. We’ve seen the deadly consequences of this rhetoric being mainstreamed.
– Keisha Blain, Professor of History, Brown University
It remains to be seen how Musk will address the mushrooming scandal, if at all. But as one of the most recognizable figures in the world, his every word, tweet, and gesture is under the microscope like never before – and even his most ardent fans may find this latest provocation impossible to ignore.
