It was widely condemned as an intentional Nazi salute in Germany,[3][4][5] where making such gestures is illegal.[6] TheAnti-Defamation League said it was not a Nazi salute,[7] but other Jewish organizations disagreed and condemned the salute.[8][9][10][11] American public opinion was divided on partisan lines as to whether it was a fascist salute.[12] Musk dismissed the accusations of Nazi sympathies, deriding them as "dirty tricks" and a "tired" attack.[13][14]Neo-Nazi andwhite supremacist groups celebrated it as a Nazi salute.[15][16] Multiple European political parties demanded that Musk be banned from entering their countries.
After the inauguration, Musk attended a celebratory rally atCapital One Arena inWashington, D.C., where he thanked the attendees for voting for Trump.[20] Musk jumped onto the stage, started throwing his hands in the air, and then began to dance.[21] After he finished dancing, Musk placed his hand to his heart and extended his arm out above his head with his palm facing down, making a straight-arm gesture. He then turned around and repeated the gesture to the audience behind him.[20][22] He then said: "My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured" after he finished the gestures.[22]My heart goes out to you is a phrase typically used to show "sorrow or sympathy" for someone, rather than an expression of thanks.[23][24][25]
Reactions
United States
Protest at theDepartment of Treasury; in the center, two women can be seen holding signs with Musk's gesture, calling him a felon and a thief.
The incident quickly sparked online comparisons to theNazi salute.[20][26] While watching the rally,CNN anchorErin Burnett said that the action was "striking".[20] Some commentators have attributed the gesture to Musk's self-diagnosis ofAsperger's syndrome.[27][28] Musk, however, has never been medically diagnosed withautism or Asperger's syndrome.[29] Several autistic people and therapists interviewed by journalist James McNaney of theBelfast Telegraph have objected to the notion that being on the autism spectrum would cause Musk to make this gesture.[30] In an article forThe New York Times, Berlin bureau chief Katrin Bennhold wrote that "it looked a lot like the salute used in Germany and fascist Italy" but that "a striking number of different interpretations began to circulate", also drawing comparisons to theBellamy salute.[4]Pulitzer Center fellow Alec Luhn said: "Slavic neo-Nazis do a similar salute, to the point that the phrase 'from the heart to the sun' often serves as a stand-in for actually doing the salute."[31]
TheAnti-Defamation League (ADL) came to Musk's defense, stating in anX post: "It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute", adding: "In this moment, all sides should give one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath. This is a new beginning."[32][7] However, former ADL national directorAbraham Foxman described the gesture as a "Heil Hitler Nazi salute".[33] TheJewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) said that the ADL appeared to be contradicting its own definition of a Nazi salute,[7] which the ADL defines as "raising an outstretched right arm with the palm down".[34]IfNotNow, a progressive Jewish group, said it was "appalled" that the ADL had "glossed over Musk's Nazi gesture, admonishing those of us who were aghast at the Hitler salute to give Musk 'the benefit of the doubt' — even as the ADL assumes the worst intentions of those in the movement for Palestinian human rights".[7] Aaron Astor, a history professor at Tennessee'sMaryville College, defended the ADL's stance on X, stating that it was "not a Nazi salute".Ruth Ben-Ghiat, professor of history and fascism atNew York University, said that it was "a Nazi salute – and a very belligerent one too".[35] The ADL declined to say how it had reached this conclusion when asked by the JTA.[7] ADL CEOJonathan Greenblatt later expressed regret that he had not "framed" the tweet differently given "the impact that it had".[36]
TheSouthern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit organization specializing in civil rights, referred to it as an "apparent Nazi salute" and noted that many far-right figures had celebrated it as a Roman salute.[37] Several academics with expertise on extremism have agreed to describing the gesture as a Nazi salute.[35][31] TheLemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention responded to the "Nazi salute" by issuing a red flag alert forgenocide in the United States.[38][39]
Jerry Nadler, a Jewish Democratic congressman from Manhattan, called the gesture antisemitic.[40]Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive Democratic congresswoman, condemned Musk's gestures and implied that he was "sympathetic to Nazis".[41][42] Minnesota governor and vice presidential candidateTim Walz said that Musk's gesture was "of course" a Nazi salute.[43] Musk said on Twitter that he would consider suing Walz for this statement.[43] AfterPBS News Hour tweeted that Musk "gave what appeared to be a fascist salute", Texas senatorTed Cruz responded: "[Musk] literally said 'my heart goes out to you' as he made the gesture from his heart to the people. PBS knows they are lying, and they are proud of doing so. They should be defunded."[44] Republican congresswomanMarjorie Taylor Greene defended Musk, accusing news outlets of lying about him and spreading "propaganda to serve theDemocrat party".[45] Israeli professor atColumbia University and pro-Israel activistShai Davidai said: "I don't care who you are, doing a Nazi salute is never ok."[46] Republican representativeElise Stefanik, Trump's nominee to serve asambassador to the United Nations, defended Musk at her confirmation hearing.[47][48] On thelate-nightsketch comedy showSaturday Night Live, cast membersJames Austin Johnson (as Trump) andMichael Che lampooned the moment in the show'scold open andWeekend Update segment.[49][50][51] During aCNN NewsNight discussion,Scott Jennings, conservative political strategist and former Bush staffer, said critics who accused Musk of doing a Nazi salute were "suffering from progression ofTrump derangement syndrome", and told them to "lawyer up".Catherine Rampell challenged him to repeat the gesture on air, which he did not.[52][53]
AYouGov survey of US citizens found that, after watching a video of the salute, 42% said that it was a Nazi salute or a Roman salute (37% and 5%, respectively) and 42% said that it was a "gesture from the heart". Of those who said it was a Nazi salute, 49% said it was on purpose, to indicate support for Nazi views, and 30% said it was done as a joke or to provoke controversy (there was no option for both). 4% said it was an accident and 15% were not sure. 73% of Harris voters said that it was a Nazi or Roman salute, and 16% a gesture from the heart, while 79% of Trump voters said it was a gesture from the heart, and 11% a Nazi or Roman salute.[12]
Jewish groups and Holocaust survivors
TheSimon Wiesenthal Center said that Musk's actions raised "serious concerns", and that his "unexpected double salute, which resembled gestures associated with troubling historical connotations, is challenging to understand". It called on him to "clarify or apologize" for the gesture.[9] TheJewish Council for Public Affairs released a statement saying: "Elon Musk knows precisely what he was doing with his fascist Roman salute at today's Trump rally – which follows his explicit embrace of far-right parties and policies."[8]The Jerusalem Post said that many Jewish groups accused Musk of performing an "unambiguous" Nazi salute.[10]
Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, said that Musk's salute was neither ambiguous nor just a distraction, but would be taken by extremists "as license for their own violent extremism", and was part of a pattern in Musk's behavior, including his support for the German far-right partyAlternative für Deutschland and the increase in extremism he has allowed on Twitter, which she said contributed to normalizing antisemitic and extremist views.[11] She gave the example ofMusk's endorsement of a Twitter post in November 2023 that claimed that Jewish people promote "hatred against whites" and support immigration by "hordes of minorities",[11] which Musk commented was "the actual truth".[54] He later apologized and called it his "worst and dumbest" post.[11] Spitalnick questioned this apology, and said that Musk's "embrace of antisemitism and extremism" will make Jews and other communities less safe.[11]
Michel Friedman, German formerChristian Democrat politician and former deputy chair of theCentral Council of Jews in Germany, described Musk's gestures as a "disgrace" that showed that "the breaking of taboos is reaching a dangerous point for the entire free world".[55][56] Masha Pearl, executive director of Holocaust survivor charityThe Blue Card, said that it was a Nazi salute, and called it "an unmistakable symbol of hate, of violence, of genocide".[20] In Canada, Holocaust survivor David Moskovic stated he was alarmed by Musk's salute.[57] A coalition of Jewish organizations in the US and Canada announced that they would be leaving X in response to the incident.[58] Some asset managers have received pressure from Jewish investors to sell Tesla stock in response.[59]
166 Jewish leaders, including rabbis and activists, signed an open letter condemning Musk's "Nazi salute", saying: "Almost daily, he spreads heinous conspiracy theories like the Great Replacement conspiracy theory, promotes neo-Nazis, and agrees with tweets claiming Jews push hate against white people." They stated: "When the world's richest man combines political power with a platform that can mobilize hate, the danger becomes immediate and lethal", and reiterated their earlier call for a boycott of X.[60][61]
Germany
Musk's salute was described, by a range of German newspapers, as "reminiscent of", "similar to", and "at least very similar to" a Nazi salute,[62][63][64][65] as an "alleged Nazi salute", as a "Nazi salute gesture", and simply as a "Nazi salute".[66][67][68][b] Stefanie Stork wrote in theFrankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: "It is not possible that Musk was unaware of the symbolism he was using when he made the gesture of an arm stretched upwards in salute."[69] In an interview withDer Spiegel, Kira Ayyadi of the anti-extremismAmadeu Antonio Foundation said: "That was definitely a Nazi salute."[70] Anna Schneider inDie Welt was skeptical, writing: "The mob needs its material, and the material is called Nazi."[71] Lenz Jacobsen wrote inDie Zeit: "Someone who, on a political stage during a political speech in front of a partly far-right audience swings their right arm upwards diagonally multiple times, is giving the Nazi salute. There's no need for 'alleged' or 'similar' or 'disputed'."[72] Timo Feldhaus wrote in theBerliner Zeitung: "That Elon Musk carefully considered his energetically performed signal, is safe to assume. Even a man as oblivious to history as he is knows what he's doing in this situation."[73] Andreas Biller wrote inFocus magazine that Musk's gesture "was recognised by most observers as clearly a Nazi salute".[3] InStern magazine, Félice Gritti wrote that the "dirty trick" was not the accusations, as Musk had said, but the "ambiguity" of the gesture, and compared this to how far-rightAfD politician and former history teacherBjörn Höcke wastwice convicted of using the banned Nazi slogan "Alles für Deutschland", despite having claimed not to know that it was the slogan of theSturmabteilung Nazi paramilitary.[74] Further articles in theSüddeutsche Zeitung,[75]Handelsblatt,[76]Die Tageszeitung,[77]Frankfurter Rundschau,[78] andRheinische Post[79] condemned Musk's gesture as an intentional Nazi salute.The New York Times said that "there was little doubt about its meaning" in Germany, and noted that making a Nazi salute is illegal there, along with theuse of other extremist symbols and slogans.[4] Public broadcasterRundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg said that Musk's gesture "is in principle a punishable offence in Germany".[6]
When asked about the incident, German ChancellorOlaf Scholz stated that Europe will not accept support for extreme-right positions. Musk reacted to the remarks on X by mocking Scholz.[80][55] The German partyDie Linke called for Musk to be banned from entering Germany, citing both the gestures and Musk's past support for Germany's far-rightAfD party and his continued interference in European politics.[81] Austria'sGreen Party also called for a similar ban.[82] Austrian green politicianLukas Hammer called both Interior and Foreign Ministries to consider the possibility of denying Musk's entry.[83] British anti-Brexit activist group,Led By Donkeys, projected an image of Musk's gesture onto theTesla Gigafactory in the city ofBerlin with the phrase "Heil Tesla", accompanied by social media posts which criticized Musk's political views.[84][85][86] Later, the German law enforcement launched an investigation into the image projected by the group, stating that it may have breached German laws on the use of symbols linked to illegal organizations.[86]
On the same day as his salutes, January 20, 2025, ahead of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Musk addressed attendees at an AfD rally by videolink, where he stated that there is "too much focus on past guilt", suggesting that children should not be held accountable for their ancestors' actions and warned against the 'dilution' of the German people resulting from multiculturalism. According toThe New York Times, Musk's comments were "an apparent effort to wipe away the long shadow of the Nazis that has influenced generations of Germans to quarantine extreme political parties from public life".[87]Danny Dayan, chair of Holocaust memorialYad Vashem, said: "Contrary to [Musk's] advice, the remembrance and acknowledgement of the dark past of the country and its people should be central in shaping the German society. Failing to do so is an insult to the victims of Nazism and a clear danger to the democratic future of Germany."[88][89]
International
Benjamin Netanyahu, theprime minister of Israel, defended Musk on X, stating that Musk "is being falsely smeared" and calling him "a great friend ofIsrael".[90][91]Haaretz covered the event with a headline "Elon Musk appears to make fascist salute at Trump inauguration rally."[92] Following Musk's speech, Andrea Stroppa, Musk's representative in Italy, posted the image of him on X along with the caption: "Roman Empire is back, starting with the Roman salute." Later, he removed the post, stating that Musk "is autistic" and that he was just expressing his feelings without emulating fascism.[15] An Italian communist youth organization, Cambiare Rotta, hung a doll of Musk upside down inPiazzale Loreto, a square inMilan where Mussolini's body was hung in the same manner by partisans after he was executed during the final days ofWorld War II.[15] Italian journalistRoberto Saviano attacked Elon Musk in a Facebook post, stating: "The end of all this will be violent. His fall will be equal to that of those to whom it historically refers with this gesture. Musk will fall at the hands of those he now incites fueled by the same violence he practices."[93]
Alexander Lukashenko, president ofBelarus, condemned Musk, stating: "They cannot say anything to justify it. This is an open Nazi salute, the Americans and Mr. Musk have simply taken this too far." Lukashenko also stated: "Why do you go on stage and do the Hitler salute in front of millions of people? Are you doing anyone good? We, together with the Americans, fought against it. It's just nuts."[94] Argentina's PresidentJavier Milei defended Musk at theWorld Economic Forum's meeting in the city ofDavos, Milei stated that his "dear friend Musk" has been "unfairly vilified by 'wokeism' in recent hours for an innocent gesture that only means his gratitude to the people".[95]Yolanda Díaz, theSpanish minister of labor and longtime member of theCommunist Party of Spain, announced that she would quit using X in response to the gesture. She also accused Musk of turning X into a "propaganda mechanism".[93][96] In a radio interview in March,Reform UK leaderNigel Farage said that he did not "for a moment" think that Musk's gestures were Nazi salutes, and when asked what they were, said, "very unwise", adding: "They're not really Nazi salutes, because they're out to the side and not in front." He said that he did not think that Elon Musk is a Nazi.[97]
Far-right
Numerous neo-Nazi and white nationalist figures expressed support for Musk's gestures.Thomas Sewell, an Australian neo-Nazi, posted a video of Musk's gestures, describing it as a "Donald TrumpWhite Power moment".[31]Nick Fuentes, founder of thewhite nationalist groupGroypers, described the gesture as "straight up like 'Sieg Heil', like loving Hitler energy".[98] Social media influencerAndrew Tate, who has himself performed Nazi salutes, and advocated "bring[ing] the Nazi salute back",[99] responded to Musk's salute by saying, "we're so back".[100] The admin of a Telegram channel run by the white supremacistActive Club Network (whose members have been recorded making Nazi salutes)[101] said: "They follow us. Our ideas are on top. Musk knows it. We know it. Everybody wanna be us. Even the world's richest guy", before adding: "But he is still what he is. A nerd."[16]Mark Collett, a neo-Nazi and leader of far-right hate groupPatriotic Alternative, said that Trump and Musk have "certainly helped to up the rhetoric and help to normalise certain things", and "if we can get anything out of it – we should."[16] Christopher Pohlhaus, leader of theneo-Nazi groupBlood Tribe, posted onTelegram: "I don't care if this was a mistake. I'm going to enjoy the tears over it."Andrew Torba, founder of the far-right social media platformGab, said: "Incredible things are happening already lmao."[46][102] AProud Boys chapter posted a clip of Musk's video to its Telegram channel with the text "Hail Trump!"[103] White supremacist movementWhite Lives Matter also reacted to Musk's gestures in Telegram with the message: "Thanks for (sometimes) hearing us, Elon. The White Flame will rise again!"[104]
Two weeks after the incident, rapperKanye West posted severalantisemitic and pro-Nazi comments on Twitter,[105] among which was an uploaded image of Musk's gesture captioned "heil Elon" inall capitals.[106] West said: "Elon stole my Nazi swag at the inauguration."[107]
Following the2025 New York City mayoral election, several right wing social media accounts (includingLibs of TikTok) falsely equated video of Democratic mayor-electZohran Mamdani waving to his audience as committing a Nazi salute, comparing it to Musk's gesture and asserting the media would not cover what they called a "double standard".[108]
Others
Many users onX, the social media platform which Musk owns, criticized the gesture, saying it resembled a Nazi salute.[109] Some of Musk's supporters on Twitter said that it was a Roman salute.[31] In response to Musk's gestures, many majorsubreddits onReddit instituted new rules banning links to or screenshots of X posts.[110][111] Sam Kuffel, a meteorologist atCBS 58 inMilwaukee, was fired after she criticized the gesture in twoInstagram posts.[112] Musk'sestranged daughterVivian Wilson spoke out about Musk's gesture, stating: "I'm just gonna say let'scall a spade a fucking spade" on Instagram'sThreads platform on January 21.[113] Elon Musk's father,Errol, defended Musk, calling the accusations against Elon "absolute nonsense" and "rubbish".[114]
Musk's reaction to criticism
Elon Musk responded to criticism of his alleged salute on January 21 on his X account, including calling all news outlets criticizing him biased. He wrote that "The legacy media is pure propaganda", that "they need better dirty tricks", and that "the 'everyone is Hitler' attack is sooo tired".[14][100]
After it was written on Musk'sWikipedia page that his gestures had been "compared to a Nazi salute", Musk reiterated his previouscriticism against the website, calling for its "defunding".[115][116] Wikipedia founderJimmy Wales challenged him to find an inaccuracy in its description of events, saying: "That isn't MSM propaganda. That's fact. Every element of it."[117]
On January 23, three days after the incident, Musk made a series of Nazi-themed puns on social media as a reaction to the controversy, which theAnti-Defamation League (after previously defending his behavior) called "offensive" and "inappropriate".[118] The U.S. newspaperThe Hill said he used the puns "to taunt those who accused him of making a fascist salute".[118]
In a discussion withJoe Rogan on a podcast published on February 28, Musk reiterated: "I'm not a Nazi", also saying: "What is actually bad about Nazis — it wasn't their fashion or their mannerisms, it was the war and genocide."[119]
Copycat incidents
British political commentatorCalvin Robinson gave a speech at the National Pro-Life Summit inWashington, D.C., which concluded with him stating "My heart goes out to you" and performing a gesture that was described as a "pro-Nazi salute" in a statement released the same day by theAnglican Catholic Church. The alleged Nazi salute was seen as an imitation of Musk's actions by commentators. The church announced that Robinson's license in his church had been revoked and was no longer a priest of the ACC,[120][121] and the entire editorial team at his gaming news website, God is a Geek, resigned in protest.[122] The Anglican Catholic Church said: "We believe that those who mimic the Nazi salute, even as a joke or an attempt to troll their opponents, trivialize the horror of the Holocaust and diminish the sacrifice of those who fought against its perpetrators. Such actions are harmful, divisive, and contrary to the tenets of Christian charity."[121]
Laura Smith, theTowamencin Township supervisor in Pennsylvania, resigned after posting a TikTok video of her appearing to replicate Musk's gesture. She later deleted the video.[123]
A real estate agent inSan Antonio made a social media video in which she imitated Musk's salute and said: "My heart goes out to you." Her employer, RD Realty Group, subsequently dismissed her and referred to her as having made "an offensive gesture".[124]
The CEO of anIdaho construction company apologized and later resigned[125] after performing the salute during a skit at a company event. He said his performance of the salute was an "attempt at humor and parody" meant to "mimic Donald Trump and Elon Musk", and that he "reject[ed] any association withhate groups".[126][127]
Since January 30, there have been five incidents of antisemitism and Nazi salutes at French universities, by students associated with the right-wingUNI student union. According toJohann Chapoutot, a historian specializing in Nazism, Elon Musk's salutes have acted to legitimize Nazi salutes.[130]
^The "Roman salute" is a gesture which was used byItalian fascists, then adopted by the Nazis. It is not believed to have been used by ancient Romans.[2]
^In German, the Nazi salute is referred to asHitlergruß ('Hitler salute').
^abBiller, Andreas (January 24, 2025)."Nach Hitlergruß-Skandal macht Elon Musk jetzt einfach Nazi-Witze".Focus. RetrievedApril 26, 2025.Elon Musk macht auf X (ehemals Twitter) jetzt Nazi-Witze. Zuvor war er wegen einer gleich mehrfach ausgeführten Geste kritisiert worden, die von den meisten Beobachtern eindeutig als Hitlergruß erkannt wurde.
^ab"Drohen Elon Musk in Deutschland Konsequenzen?".rbb24.de (in German). January 22, 2025. RetrievedApril 25, 2025.Elon Musk hat mit einem mutmaßlichen Hitlergruß anlässlich der Amtseinführung von Donald Trump Aufsehen erregt. Diese Geste ist in Deutschland grundsätzlich strafbar. Drohen ihm beim nächsten Besuch deswegen Konsequenzen?
^Hibberd, James (January 21, 2025)."Sometimes a Nazi Salute Is a Nazi Salute".The Hollywood Reporter.ISSN0018-3660.OCLC44653726.Archived from the original on January 21, 2025. RetrievedFebruary 4, 2025.'My heart goes out to you' is what you typically say to express sympathy to somebody. You say to wildfire victims, 'My heart goes out to you.' It's not something you say when you're thanking a roaring audience for supporting a politician. It was an ill-fitting line, combined with a jaw-drop gesture.
^de Guzman, Chad (January 23, 2025) [January 20, 2025]."Elon Musk Comments on Controversial Clip of Him Giving a Straight-Arm Salute".Time.ISSN0040-781X.OCLC1311479.Archived from the original on February 5, 2025. RetrievedJanuary 27, 2025.Aaron Astor, a history professor at Maryville College in Tennessee, posted: 'This is a socially awkward autistic man's wave to the crowd where he says "my heart goes out to you"' (Musk has previously disclosed that he has Asperger's syndrome, also known as autism spectrum disorder). Newsweek opinion editor Batya Ungar-Sargon offered a similar explanation, adding: 'We don't need to invent outrage.'
^"Nach Trump-Rede: Musk zeigt Geste, die an Hitlergruß erinnert".Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). January 21, 2025.Archived from the original on February 9, 2025. RetrievedApril 25, 2025.Tech-Milliardär und Trump-Buddy Elon Musk hat bei einem Auftritt nach Donald Trumps Amtseinführung eine Geste gezeigt, die dem Hitlergruß mindestens sehr ähnlich sieht. [Tech billionaire and Trump buddy Elon Musk made a gesture at an appearance after Donald Trump's inauguration that looks at least very similar to the Nazi salute.]
^Jacobsen, Lenz (January 21, 2025)."Elon Musk: Ein Hitlergruß ist ein Hitlergruß ist ein Hitlergruß".Die Zeit (in German).ISSN0044-2070. RetrievedApril 25, 2025.Wer auf einer politischen Bühne bei einer politischen Rede vor einem teils rechtsextremen Publikum den rechten Arm schwungvoll und mehrmals schräg in die Höhe reckt, macht den Hitlergruß. Es braucht da kein "vermeintlich" oder "ähnlich" oder "umstritten".
^Feldhaus, Timo (January 22, 2025)."Der Hitlergruß von Elon Musk: Nicht von der Kunstfreiheit gedeckt".Berliner Zeitung (in German).Archived from the original on March 30, 2025. RetrievedApril 25, 2025.Dass Elon Musk sich das schwungvoll performte Zeichen gut überlegt hat, davon ist doch bitte auszugehen. Selbst ein geschichtsvergessener Mann wie er weiß in dieser Situation, was er da macht.
Media related toElon Musk gesture controversy at Wikimedia Commons
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