Right-wing extremists have praised Elon Musk’s straight-arm gesture during a speech on Donald Trump’s inauguration day, though the intent behind the action remains ambiguous. Musk acknowledged Trump’s election victory, expressing gratitude before performing the gesture, which many interpreted as resembling a Nazi salute. Following the event, Musk did not deny the implications but dismissed the criticism, labelling those interpretations as tiresome.
The gesture has sparked debate, with some extremists claiming it as a symbolic endorsement, while watchdogs like the Anti-Defamation League described it as an “awkward gesture,” urging caution before jumping to conclusions. Analysts, including Jared Holt from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, were sceptical about its intentionality, suggesting it could be misinterpreted gratitude towards the crowd.
In Europe, where such gestures are heavily associated with fascism, outrage ensued. An Italian communist organization even hung an effigy of Musk in Milan, connecting his actions to historical fascism. Musk’s representative attempted to clarify by stating Musk is autistic and was merely expressing emotions, firmly denying any affiliation with extremist ideologies. However, the controversy surrounding the incident reflects ongoing tensions regarding his leadership at Twitter, now called X, where discussions on hate speech have intensified.