Elon Musk’s alleged Nazi salute on Jan. 20 at President Trump’s inauguration rally has sparked widespread controversy, raising questions about his political motives and affiliation with the Trump administration. At a time when antisemitism is a growing concern, many fear the incident signals radicalization within the highest levels of government.
On his social media platform X, multi-billionaire and CEO Elon Musk has demonstrated his fervent support for Trump leading up to his re-election in November. Musk was later named the senior advisor of Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency, a temporary government agency aiming to “slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure Federal Agencies.”
Since the second Trump administration took office, DOGE has frozen funding for several government agencies and accessed sensitive Treasury data without congressional approval. Considering his DOGE appointment and his February 11 Oval Office interview, in which he expressed plans to cut bureaucratic spending, Musk appears to be a key player within the Trump administration.
During the inauguration rally at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., Musk thanked the crowd for their support. Musk concluded his speech by hitting his right hand to his chest and extending his arm diagonally towards the audience — a gesture many perceived as a Nazi salute.
“My heart goes out to you,” Musk said after turning around to repeat the gesture to the crowd behind him. “It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured.”
What Musk meant by the “future of civilization” remains unclear, but some have interpreted it as a call for adopting fascist policies.
Prominent figures and organizations have come forward to denounce Musk for the gesture.
Michael Friedman, a publicist and former deputy chair of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, is a descendant of Holocaust survivors. He said Musk’s actions were a disgrace and show “a dangerous point for the entire free world” has been reached.
The Jewish Council for Public Affairs condemned Musk, stating Neo-Nazis and white supremacists will take the normalization of fascist gestures “as a stamp of approval for their targeting of Jews, immigrants, people of color, and so many others.”
Sources close to Musk have also come forward.
“I'm just gonna say let's call a spade a f---ing spade,” Musks' estranged daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, wrote in a Threads post. “Especially if there were two spades done in succession based on the reaction of the first spade.”
Phillip Low, CEO and founder of Neurovigil and former associate of Musk, suggested Musk performed the Nazi salute due to concerns about being marginalized by the “Nazi wing” of the Trump administration, according to a now-deleted Facebook and LinkedIn post.
“Nazis believed that an entire race was above everyone else,” the post wrote.“Elon believes he is above everyone else.”
Musk himself has made few public comments on the situation, joking on X that “radical leftists are really upset that they had to take time out of their busy day praising Hamas to call me a Nazi.”
Supporters of Musk and the Trump administration denied that the gesture was a Nazi salute.
The Anti-Defamation League, an organization that combats antisemitism and other forms of bigotry, dismissed the incident as “an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm.” This position has led to criticism of the ADL from Jewish groups.
Many claimed Musk gave a Roman salute, a gesture adopted by fascist Italian leader Benito Mussolini. Historians pointed out that the Roman salute is still a symbol popularized first by Italian fascists and later adopted by Nazis, and there is little evidence of its use in ancient Rome.
Historians also pointed to the practice of the Bellamy salute alongside the pledge of allegiance in American schools, in which the flag was saluted by extending the right arm with palms facing down. Congress passed legislation in 1942 instructing Americans to place their right hand over the heart instead, as Bellamy’s gesture “too closely resembled the Nazi salute.”
Given critics’ interpretation of his gesture at the rally, fears of Musk adopting authoritarian tactics will likely grow. Historian Robert O. Paxton notes in “Five Stages of Fascism” that fascist movements often adopt and normalize symbols to unify followers while excluding deemed outsiders. As these symbols or gestures become widely accepted, they can accelerate shifts towards authoritarianism.
Additionally, critics see DOGE’s ability to bypass congressional approval and conduct sweeping reforms to federal agencies as bypassing checks and balances, deepening fears of democratic backsliding.
The controversy surrounding Musk’s gesture is not isolated and reflects a historical trend in how political symbols and rhetoric influence governance. Historically, authoritarian regimes do not rise overnight — they tighten their grip by gradually eroding democratic institutions and marginalizing certain groups, not only through policy but through symbols, gestures and propaganda. These seemingly small changes can accumulate, reinforcing shifts in governance and power structures.
Given DOGE’s actions and the nature of the gesture, it is clear the Trump administration will continue to face scrutiny for Musk’s actions. The weight of the nation’s response cannot be understated.
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