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Elon Musk slammed critics of his hand gesture during his speech at a rally following Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony. Musk has been a major Trump backer throughout the politician’s campaign for a second shot at the White House. Unsurprisingly, he was part of a handful of Republican loyalists who gave a speech at the Capital One Arena, ushering in the new Trump era. While speaking at the Trump rally, Elon Musk made a controversial gesture with his hands, sparking criticism for the supposed “Nazi salute.”
In the speech, the billionaire expressed gratitude to the Trump supporters and Republicans who ensured the president’s reinstatement in office. While expressing his thanks “for making it happen,” Elon Musk placed his right hand over his heart and then thrust the stiff arm in the air. He turned in various directions of the arena, repeating the gesture before adding, “It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured.” He made the final statement with the hand placed over his chest, but only this time, he returned it to the pulpit rather than make another salute gesture.
Elon Musk Under Fire Following Nazi Salute-Lookalike Gesture at Trump Rally
Although Elon Musk’s repeated hand gestures seemed like a simple demonstration, the internet soon erupted with conspiracy theories likening the gesture to a “Nazi salute.” Several netizens, including Yolanda Diaz, Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister, threatened to boycott Musk’s social media platform, X due to his “stark” gesture.
Historians and activists have also analyzed the controversial hand gesture, concluding it indeed embodied the Nazi “Seig Heil” salute. The hand gesture, seemingly aimed at showing solidarity with the people, has faced scrutiny across the media, with many calling out Elon Musk’s “nod to Hitler.”
Musk Responds to Critics of His Hand Gesture
The Tesla CEO isn’t having it, taking to his platform to hit back at critics. Retweeting a post from the X user The Rabbit Hole which dubbed “the salute hoax” another part of the “dirty tricks campaign,” Musk shot,
“Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired.”
The post hitting back at the Nazi salute hoax highlighted a previous tweet where Elon Musk admitted to previously voting for the Democrats until they became “a party of division and hate.” In the post, Musk predicted the Democrats would come at him with their “dirty tricks campaign,” hence the reference in his latest clapback.
Elon Musk’s hit back at trolls accusing him of doing the Nazi salute while giving a speech at Donald Trump’s inauguration rally has further divided the internet. While supporters insist the gesture was misinterpreted, others accuse the tech mogul of promoting hate, playing a political game, and making his X platform a political tool to steer people’s opinions as he deems fit. This allegation stems from Musk’s open political campaign in Trump’s favor, mostly promoting and spotlighting tweets that favor the Republican party and anti-woke ideologies.
The businessman has faced scrutiny for this unrepentant “misuse” of the social media platform which should otherwise be a communication and “connecting” tool. Many believe his influence on X ultimately steered the election results, leading to Trump’s election win and reinstatement as the 47th President of the United States.
