Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk is facing criticism after an action during Donald Trump’s inauguration celebrations in Washington D.C. Many people are saying his gesture resembled a Nazi salute. Musk, who leads Tesla, SpaceX, and the social media platform X, spoke to a large audience at the Capital One Arena on January 20th, just hours after Trump became the 47th President of the United States. This event has led to widespread discussion and strong disapproval.
Videos and pictures shared across the internet show Musk raising his right arm at an angle while addressing the crowd. This movement has been compared to the Nazi salute, which was a gesture of loyalty to Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. Critics quickly expressed their anger online, questioning why Musk made that gesture, especially considering its historical meaning. This incident is creating difficulties for his companies, which are facing increasing public attention.
Even though the controversy about his gesture is growing, Musk has not directly commented on it. However, he did talk about the election, calling it “a fork in the road of human civilization,” while also praising the Republican’s victory in November. Some people online are defending Musk, saying that his actions were misunderstood or simply a normal hand movement. This event is happening at a time when Musk’s public comments and social media activities are already under close examination. The incident at the inauguration celebration further complicates how the public sees Musk.