Elon Musk's Inauguration-Day Gesture Sparks Nazi Salute Controversy

On January 20, 2025, at a rally celebrating Trump's second inauguration, Elon Musk made a gesture — a hand-to-chest motion followed by an extended arm with palm down — that many observers interpreted as a Nazi or fascist-style salute. The moment quickly went viral and split opinion along partisan lines, with the Anti-Defamation League initially calling it not a Nazi salute while other Jewish organizations and European officials strongly disagreed.

The episode drew condemnation in Germany, where such gestures are illegal, and prompted some European political parties to call for barring Musk from their countries. Three days later, Musk made a series of Nazi-themed jokes on social media in response to the criticism, which the ADL then called offensive and inappropriate, reversing its earlier defense.

The Trump administration did not publicly rebuke Musk over the incident. Given Musk's close alignment with the administration at the time, including his role leading DOGE, critics argued the muted response reflected a broader tolerance for controversial rhetoric among allies seen as politically useful.