Tue Jan 21 13:32:59 UTC 2025: ## Tech Billionaire Elon Musk Sparks Outrage with Apparent Nazi Salute at Trump Inauguration

**Washington D.C.** – Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX, X, and Tesla, ignited a firestorm of controversy on Monday after performing what many interpreted as a Nazi salute during celebrations for Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration. The incident occurred at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., where Musk addressed a crowd of Trump supporters.

Video footage shows Musk giving two distinct salutes: raising his right arm in an upwards diagonal with a straight hand and palm down. This gesture closely resembles the Nazi salute, a fact not lost on observers. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), while acknowledging Musk’s claim that the gesture was unintentional, noted the salute’s strong association with Nazism and white supremacy.

Following the gestures, Musk expressed his support for Trump’s agenda, mentioning “safe cities,” “secure borders,” and even jokingly referencing taking “Doge” to Mars.

Social media erupted with criticism. History professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat of New York University called the salute “a Nazi salute and a very belligerent one too.” While Musk initially responded by reposting humorous memes and downplaying the significance of the event, the controversy escalated.

The ADL issued a statement calling for “grace” and “the benefit of the doubt,” suggesting the gesture might have been unintentional. However, this attempt at de-escalation was met with harsh criticism from Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who accused the ADL of defending a “Heil Hitler salute.” Musk retorted by calling Ocasio-Cortez “fully unhinged.”

The incident follows other controversial actions by Musk, including hosting Alice Weidel, leader of the far-right German party Alternative für Deutschland, for a conversation on X. Some far-right figures celebrated Musk’s gestures, further fueling the controversy. The incident underscores Musk’s ongoing engagement with far-right figures and ideologies, raising concerns among critics.

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