Elon Musk gave an enthusiastic speech after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th U.S. president, peppered with shouting and astronaut portrayals, but it was two arm gestures that drew immediate controversy.
Musk, the billionaire president of X and SpaceX, who is also the CEO of Tesla, made his speech Monday afternoon at the Capitol One Arena after attending Trump’s inauguration in the Capitol Rotunda.
“This is what victory feels like,” Musk said at the onset of his speech, before declaring Trump’s win to be “a fork in the road of human civilization”
“This (election) really matters.”
Musk thanked Trump’s supporters before reaching toward his heart, then gesturing toward the crowd what his outstretched arm at an upward angle in an apparent sign of gratitude, before turning around and doing it again.
“It’s because of you that the future of civilization is assured.”
The two salutes to the crowd garnered social media reaction for their suspected similarities to Nazi salutes.
“Did Elon Musk Sieg Heil at Trump’s inauguration?” the Jerusalem Post wrote.
US billionaire Elon Musk appeared to make a Heil Hitler salute at the Washington DC Trump parade on Monday, following Trump's inauguration.https://t.co/bRAV5zDyYX
— The Jerusalem Post (@Jerusalem_Post) January 21, 2025
However, the Anti-Defamation League, which investigates antisemitism, called it “an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute.”
This is a delicate moment. It’s a new day and yet so many are on edge. Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety.
— ADL (@ADL) January 20, 2025
It seems that @elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on…
The Lemkin Institute, which works with groups around the world in genocide prevention and human security, shared a post on Instagram, saying they were “horrified” in issuing a “red flag alert...on Elon Musk’s clear use of the Nazi salute.”
CTV News has reached out to X and Tesla for comment on Musk’s gestures but, as of time of publication, has yet to receive a response.
In a post to X, the platform the billionaire owns, Musk said, “Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired.”
Musk later spoke of the dawning of an age of common sense -- complete with safer cities, stronger borders and sensible spending -- before declaring, in nearly the same breath, “then we’re taking those to Mars.”
“Can you imagine how awesome it will be to have American astronauts plant the flag on another planet for the first time?” said Musk, before acting out how it would look.
In November, Trump announced Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy would lead the ‘department of government efficiency,’ a non-government agency that would provide advice.
After Monday afternoon’s crowd began to chant ‘Elon,’ Musk declared he would “work his ass off for you guys.”
“We’re gonna make the future good.”
