Elon Musk hits out at critics for ‘dirty tricks’ after his hand gesture was compared to a Nazi salute

21 January 2025, 11:00

Elon Musk has defended making an 'awkward hand gesture' at Trump's inauguration that some have likened to a Nazi salute.

While addressing a crowd of MAGA supporters during a celebration of President Donald Trump's inauguration, he made a gesture putting his right hand on his chest before raising it it in the air. Then he turned and made the same hand gesture to the crowd behind him.

He drew intense criticism and the gesture was branded a 'Nazi salute' by some viewers.

But he defended himself today, stating that his opponents need ‘better dirty tricks’ and that the ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired’. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an organisation founded to combat anti-Semitism said the gesture was “an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute”.

Musk's gesture was aimed at a crowd of Trump supporters at the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. as part of celebrations following Donald Trump's inauguration as the 47th President of the United States earlier today.

Musk thanked the crowd for making Trump's election win happen, and proceeded to place his right hand on his chest and raise it in the air.

Social media users immediately shared their shock at the gesture, accusing the tech billionaire of performing a 'Hitler salute'.

The video shared on X did not show the rest of Musk's speech, which did not mention Nazism or hate speech.

Some social media users defended Musk, saying he was "extending his heart to the crowd.

"This account took it out of context to make it look like the Roman salute."

Elon Musk took the stage at the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. and told the crowd "Elections come and go, some are important and some are not, but this one really mattered and I just want to say thank you for making it happen."

He added: "it is thanks to you that the future of civilisation is assured".

Musk, the richest man on Earth, jumped around on stage and asked how "awesome" it would be for US astronauts to reach Mars.

Musk asked the crowd: "Can you imagine how awesome it will be to have American astronauts plant the flag on another planet for the first time?"

He then imitated planting a flag pole into the stage.

He added “we're going to take Doge to Mars," in reference to the Department of Government Efficiency that he will be in charge of.