A viral video showing Elon Musk, billionaire entrepreneur and owner of X (formerly Twitter), making a one-armed gesture during a speech at a Donald Trump rally has ignited a heated debate online. Many internet users and historians have drawn comparisons to a Nazi salute, prompting widespread reactions across social media and news platforms.
The Gesture in Question
During the speech, Musk, a known ally of Trump, expressed gratitude to supporters, saying:
“This was no ordinary victory. This was a fork in the road of human civilization. Thank you for making it happen!”
As he spoke, Musk thumped his right hand over his heart and extended it outward at an upward angle, with his palm down and fingers together—a gesture that some viewers interpreted as resembling a “Nazi salute.” He repeated the gesture toward the crowd behind him, adding:
“My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured.”
Musk later shared clips of his speech on his social media platform, writing:
“The future is so exciting.”
Criticism from Historians
Some historians criticized the gesture, with Ruth Ben-Ghiat describing it as “a Nazi salute—and a very belligerent one too.” Claire Aubin, a historian specializing in US-based Nazism, also interpreted the gesture as a “sieg heil”, adding on X:
“My professional opinion is that you’re all right, you should believe your eyes.”
Support for Musk
Despite the backlash, Musk received support from various quarters. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an organization often critical of Musk, defended him, stating:
“It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute.”
Aaron Astor, another historian, echoed this sentiment:
“I have criticized Elon Musk many times for letting neo-Nazis pollute this platform. But this gesture is not a Nazi salute.”
Others pointed out Musk’s previous actions that counter the allegations, including his 2022 visit to Auschwitz, the site of the Nazis’ largest concentration camp, followed by a trip to Israel to learn about Jewish history and the Holocaust.
Comparisons to Other Politicians
Supporters of Musk also noted that similar gestures have been made by former US President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, suggesting the gesture’s interpretation might be context-dependent rather than intentional.
Backdrop of Controversy
The incident comes amid rising scrutiny of Musk’s political alignments. He recently expressed support for the Alternative for Germany (AfD), a far-right, anti-immigration party labeled as extremist by German security agencies.
