Elon Musk entered controversy on Monday when he gave back to back Fascist-style salutes during celebrations of the presidential inauguration of Donald Trump.
“I just want to thank you for making this possible,” the owner of SpaceX, Capital One Arena in Washington.
Musk then slapped his right hand against his chest, fingers spread, before pulling his right arm diagonally upward, fingers together and palm facing down.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which campaigns against anti-Semitism, defines The Nazi salute consists of “raising the right arm outstretched, palm down”.
As the crowd roared, Musk turned and saluted again, his arm and hand slightly lowered.
“My heart goes out to you,” Musk said, slapping his chest again. “It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured. Thank you. We will have safe cities, finally safe cities. Secure borders, reasonable expenses. Basic stuff. And we’re going to take “Doge” to Mars.
This was a reference to what is called “efficiency of government department,” the federal cost-cutting effort for which Musk was nominated by Trump, and remarks in the inaugural address in which Trump said the United States would send astronauts to Mars.
Musk asked his audience to imagine American astronauts planting the flag on another planet, miming such actions and shouting, “Bam!” Boom! »
He was speaking before Trump’s appearance at the arena, for the inaugural parade moved indoors due to the cold and for the signing of executive orders on stage.
Social media users expressed shock at Musk’s move. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, professor of history at New York University, said: “Here, historian of fascism. It was a Nazi salute and very bellicose too.
Musk did not immediately comment, although he reposted images of his remarks including the second salute and approved memes seeking to turn images of his salutes into jokes.
One X user wrote: “Can we please remove the ones calling people Nazis? »
Musk wrote “Yeah exactly” and added a “yawn” emoji.
However, Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper, describe Musk delivering “a Roman salute, a fascist salute most often associated with Nazi Germany.”
The ADL, for its part, claims that in Germany, between 1933 and 1945, the Nazi salute “was often accompanied by chants or shouts of ‘Heil Hitler’ or ‘Sieg Heil.’ Since World War II, neo-Nazis and other white supremacists have continued to use the salute, making it the most common white supremacist hand sign in the world.
In a statement Posted on social media later Monday, the ADL said: “This is a delicate moment. It’s a new day and yet many are at their wit’s end. Our politics are inflamed and social media only adds to the anxiety.
“It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we understand that people are on edge. Right now, all parties should give themselves some grace, maybe even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath. It’s a new beginning. Let us hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years to come.
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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent progressive Democratic congresswoman from New York, I screwed up the ADL: “Just to be clear, you are defending a Heil Hitler salute that has been performed and rehearsed for emphasis and clarity. People can now officially stop listening to you as a trusted source of information. You work for them. Thank you for making this clear to everyone.
Musk responded to that post, saying Ocasio-Cortez “has reached stage 5 (Trump Derangement Syndrome) – completely unhinged.”
Trump has been widely accused of being a white supremacist and even compared to Hitler – notably by JD Vancenow Trump’s vice president, before the former Marine and author entered Republican politics and changed his tune.
Musk’s engagement with and support for the global far right continues to spark controversy. Earlier this month, he hosted Alice Weidel, leader of Alternative für Deutschland, a far-right German party, for a conversation about X.
Weidel asserted that Hitler “was not a conservative, he was not a libertarian, he was a communist, a socialist, and we are the opposite.”
Musk agreed.
On Monday, some prominent far-right social media users celebrated Musk’s gestures on stage in Washington, regardless of how he meant them.
As first reported rolling stoneChristopher Pohlhaus, the leader of the Blood Tribe, a neo-Nazi group, wrote on Telegram: “I don’t care if this was a mistake. I’m going to enjoy the tears about this. Andrew Torba, the founder of Gab, a far-right social media platform, also wrote: “Incredible things are already happening. »
Read more of the Guardian’s Trump coverage