Elon Musk salute controversy

On January 20, 2025, the second inauguration of Donald Trump took place after his victory in the 2024 United States presidential election. Many people were invited, including Elon Musk.{{Cite news |last=Pequeño |first=Antonio IV |date=January 20, 2025 |title=Trump's Surprise Billionaire Guests: Bernard Arnault And Mukesh Ambani Attend Inauguration Events |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/01/20/surprise-billionaires-at-trumps-inauguration-lvmh-chief-bernard-arnault-and-mukesh-ambani-make-appearances/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127084907/https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/01/20/surprise-billionaires-at-trumps-inauguration-lvmh-chief-bernard-arnault-and-mukesh-ambani-make-appearances/ |archive-date=January 27, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=Forbes |issn=0015-6914 |oclc=6465733}} Musk was influential to Trump's campaign as the second-largest donor. Trump designated him to co-head the Department of Government Efficiency during Trump's second presidency.{{Cite news |last=Durkee |first=Alison |date=October 25, 2024 |title=Elon Musk Is Now Trump's 2nd-Biggest Financial Backer: Donates Nearly $120 Million To Super PAC |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2024/10/24/elon-musk-donates-another-436-million-to-pro-trump-america-pac/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130140908/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alisondurkee/2024/10/24/elon-musk-donates-another-436-million-to-pro-trump-america-pac/ |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=Forbes |issn=0015-6914 |oclc=6465733}}{{Cite news |last=Garrett |first=Luke |date=December 5, 2024 |title=Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy take their DOGE government efficiency pitch to the Hill |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/12/04/nx-s1-5205354/musk-ramaswamy-doge-congress |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123183209/https://www.npr.org/2024/12/04/nx-s1-5205354/musk-ramaswamy-doge-congress |archive-date=January 23, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=NPR}}

After the inauguration, Musk attended a celebratory rally at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., where he thanked the attendees for voting for Trump.{{Cite news |last=Mac |first=Ryan |author-link=Ryan Mac |date=January 20, 2025 |title=Elon Musk Ignites Online Speculation Over the Meaning of a Hand Gesture |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/20/us/politics/elon-musk-hand-gesture-speech.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250128173736/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/20/us/politics/elon-musk-hand-gesture-speech.html |archive-date=January 28, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=The New York Times |issn=1553-8095 |oclc=1645522}} Musk jumped onto the stage, started throwing his hands in the air, and then began to dance.{{Cite news |date=January 22, 2025 |title=Elon Musk responds to 'Nazi salute' row, says opponents need 'better dirty tricks' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/elon-musk-responds-to-nazi-salute-row-says-opponents-need-better-dirty-tricks-101737499831898.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125120645/https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/elon-musk-responds-to-nazi-salute-row-says-opponents-need-better-dirty-tricks-101737499831898.html |archive-date=January 25, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=Hindustan Times |issn=0972-0243 |oclc=231696742}} 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.{{Cite news |last1=Timmons |first1=Heather |last2=Brice |first2=Makini |last3=Chambers |first3=Madeline |last4=Singh |first4=Kanishka |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Musk's hand gesture during Trump inauguration festivities draws scrutiny |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musks-hand-gesture-during-trump-inauguration-festivities-draws-scrutiny-2025-01-21/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129220634/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/musks-hand-gesture-during-trump-inauguration-festivities-draws-scrutiny-2025-01-21/ |archive-date=January 29, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Reuters}} 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. My heart goes out to you is a phrase typically used to show "sorrow or sympathy" for someone, rather than an expression of thanks.{{Cite magazine |last=Hibberd |first=James |author-link=James Hibberd (writer) |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Sometimes a Nazi Salute Is a Nazi Salute |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/musk-nazi-salute-trump-rally-1236113874/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121203426/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/musk-nazi-salute-trump-rally-1236113874/ |archive-date=January 21, 2025 |access-date=February 4, 2025 |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |issn=0018-3660 |oclc=44653726 |quote='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.}}{{Cite dictionary |title=Heart goes out to |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heart%20goes%20out%20to |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250122214113/https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heart%20goes%20out%20to |archive-date=January 22, 2025 |access-date=February 4, 2025 |dictionary=Merriam-Webster |quote=Feel sorrow or sympathy for.}}{{Cite dictionary |title=Your heart goes out to someone |url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/heart-goes-out-to |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121030043/https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/heart-goes-out-to |archive-date=January 21, 2025 |access-date=February 4, 2025 |dictionary=Cambridge Dictionary |quote=If your heart goes out to someone who is in trouble, you feel sympathy for them.}}

File:Elon Musk Nazi salute.jpg; 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 the Nazi salute.{{cite web |last=Smith |first=Jillian |date=January 21, 2025 |title=What is a Roman salute? Term trends after Elon Musk's gesture at Trump Inauguration Parade |url=https://www.fox5dc.com/news/what-is-roman-salute-elon-musks-gesture-trump-rally-draws-scrutiny |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127182217/https://www.fox5dc.com/news/what-is-roman-salute-elon-musks-gesture-trump-rally-draws-scrutiny |archive-date=January 27, 2025 |access-date=January 27, 2025 |work=WTTG}} While watching the rally, CNN anchor Erin Burnett said that the action was "striking". Some commentators have attributed the gesture to Musk's self-diagnosis of Asperger's syndrome.{{cite web |author=Jacques |first=Ingrid |date=January 23, 2025 |title=Elon is Hitler? Liberals regress to cancel culture to compensate for their loss. Opinion |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2025/01/23/musk-salute-fascist-democrats-cancel-culture/77845518007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130195506/https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2025/01/23/musk-salute-fascist-democrats-cancel-culture/77845518007/ |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |access-date=January 27, 2025 |website=USA Today |publisher=Gannett |publication-date=January 23, 2025 |issn=0734-7456 |oclc=8799626 |quote=(...) So doesn't it seem a bit hypocritical that it's the left mocking Musk, who has openly discussed how he's dealt with Asperger's syndrome, which is a form of autism? (...)}}{{cite magazine |author=de Guzman |first=Chad |date=January 23, 2025 |orig-date=January 20, 2025 |title=Elon Musk Comments on Controversial Clip of Him Giving a Straight-Arm Salute |url=https://time.com/7208614/elon-musk-nazi-salute-reactions-debate-controversy-adl-trump-inauguration/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250205171320/https://time.com/7208614/elon-musk-nazi-salute-reactions-debate-controversy-adl-trump-inauguration/ |archive-date=February 5, 2025 |access-date=January 27, 2025 |magazine=Time |publication-date=January 23, 2025 |issn=0040-781X |oclc=1311479 |quote=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.'}} Musk, however, has never been medically diagnosed with autism or Asperger's syndrome.{{Cite news |last=Yahr |first=Emily |date=May 8, 2021 |title=Elon Musk reveals he has Asperger's syndrome during SNL monologue |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/05/09/elon-musk-hosts-snl/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129080057/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/05/09/elon-musk-hosts-snl/ |archive-date=January 29, 2025 |access-date=January 27, 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=2269358}} Several autistic people and therapists interviewed by journalist James McNaney of the Belfast Telegraph have objected to the notion that being on the autism spectrum would cause Musk to make this gesture.{{Cite news |last=McNaney |first=James |date=January 22, 2025 |title=Yes, Elon, it was a Nazi salute... and autism is no excuse |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/yes-elon-it-was-a-nazi-salute-and-autism-is-no-excuse/a633559066.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127205308/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/yes-elon-it-was-a-nazi-salute-and-autism-is-no-excuse/a633559066.html |archive-date=January 27, 2025 |access-date=January 24, 2025 |work=Belfast Telegraph |issn=0307-1235 |oclc=37380368}} In an article for The 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 the Bellamy salute. 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."

File:Musk Protestor at SF Tesla showroom 2025.jpg

The Anti-Defamation League came to Musk's defense, stating in an X 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."{{Cite news |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Elon Musk causes stir with hand gesture at Trump inauguration |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3295571/elon-musk-causes-stir-hand-gesture-trump-inauguration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126113635/https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3295571/elon-musk-causes-stir-hand-gesture-trump-inauguration |archive-date=January 26, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=South China Morning Post |publisher=Alibaba Group |issn=1563-9371 |oclc=648902513 |agency=Agence France-Presse}}{{Cite web |last=Lapin |first=Andrew |date=2025-01-23 |title=How did the ADL conclude Elon Musk didn't give a Nazi salute? It isn't saying |url=https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/how-did-the-adl-conclude-that-elon-musk-didnt-give-a-nazi-salute-it-isnt-saying/ |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=Jewish News |language=en-US}} However, former ADL national director Abraham Foxman described the gesture as a "Heil Hitler Nazi salute".{{Cite news |last=Fox |first=Mira |date=January 21, 2025 |title=ADL excuses Musk salute as 'awkward gesture' |url=https://forward.com/fast-forward/690745/adl-elon-musk-sieg-heil-hitler-salute-nazi/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127171436/https://forward.com/fast-forward/690745/adl-elon-musk-sieg-heil-hitler-salute-nazi/ |archive-date=January 27, 2025 |access-date=January 22, 2025 |website=The Forward |issn=1051-340X |oclc=34407272}} Jewish News said that the ADL appeared to be contradicting its own definition of a Nazi salute, which the ADL defines as "raising an outstretched right arm with the palm down".{{Cite web |title=Hitler Salute (hand sign) |url=https://www.adl.org/resources/hate-symbol/hitler-salute-hand-sign |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=Anti-Defamation League}} 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". Aaron Astor, a history professor at Tennessee's Maryville College, defended the ADL's stance on X, stating that it was "not a Nazi salute". Ruth Ben-Ghiat, professor of history and fascism at New York University, said that it was "a Nazi salute – and a very belligerent one too".{{Cite news |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Elon Musk at Trump's inauguration: What's the history of the Nazi salute? |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/21/elon-musk-at-trumps-inauguration-whats-the-history-of-the-nazi-salute |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250128092133/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/1/21/elon-musk-at-trumps-inauguration-whats-the-history-of-the-nazi-salute |archive-date=January 28, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Al Jazeera English}} The ADL declined to say how it had reached this conclusion when asked by Jewish News and the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt later expressed regret that he had not "framed" the tweet differently given "the impact that it had".{{Cite news |last=Podcast |first=Haaretz |title=ADL head Jonathan Greenblatt: 'I should have framed my tweet on Musk's salute differently' |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/podcasts/2025-02-27/ty-article-podcast/adl-head-jonathan-greenblatt-i-should-have-framed-my-tweet-on-musks-salute-differently/00000195-4686-d46a-a19f-f7c628570000 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250405121041/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/podcasts/2025-02-27/ty-article-podcast/adl-head-jonathan-greenblatt-i-should-have-framed-my-tweet-on-musks-salute-differently/00000195-4686-d46a-a19f-f7c628570000 |archive-date=2025-04-05 |access-date=2025-04-21 |work=Haaretz.com |language=en}}

Southern 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.{{cite web |last1=Newton |first1=Creede |last2=Squire |first2=Megan |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Elon Musk's Inaugural Roman Salute Sparks Outrage, Far-Right Praise |url=https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hate-watch/elon-musks-inaugural-roman-salute-sparks-outrage-far-right-praise/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125014256/https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hate-watch/elon-musks-inaugural-roman-salute-sparks-outrage-far-right-praise/ |archive-date=January 25, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Southern Poverty Law Center}} Several academics with expertise on extremism have agreed to describing the gesture as a Nazi salute.{{Cite news |last=Kassam |first=Ashifa |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Did Elon Musk give a Nazi or Roman salute, and what's the difference? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/21/elon-musk-nazi-roman-salute-difference-trump-inauguration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250128203621/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/21/elon-musk-nazi-roman-salute-difference-trump-inauguration |archive-date=January 28, 2025 |access-date=January 24, 2025 |work=The Guardian |issn=1756-3224 |oclc=60623878}} The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention responded to the "Nazi salute" by issuing a red flag alert for genocide in the United States.{{Cite web |title=Lemkin Institute Issues 'Red Flag Alert for Genocide' After Musk's Nazi Salutes |url=https://www.commondreams.org/news/lemkin-institute-musk-salute |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=Common Dreams |language=en}}{{cite web |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Red Flag Alert for Genocide - United States: The Rise of the Nazi Salute |url=https://www.lemkininstitute.com/red-flag-alerts/red-flag-alert-for-genocide---united-states%3A-the-rise-of-the-nazi-salute |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250206065226/https://www.lemkininstitute.com/red-flag-alerts/red-flag-alert-for-genocide---united-states:-the-rise-of-the-nazi-salute |archive-date=February 6, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention}}

Jerry Nadler, a Jewish Democratic congressman from Manhattan, called the gesture antisemitic.{{Cite news |last=Cramer |first=Philissa |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Elon Musk's straight-armed gesture at inauguration ignites comparisons to Nazi salute |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/elon-musks-straight-armed-gesture-at-inauguration-ignites-comparisons-to-nazi-salute/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126184255/https://www.timesofisrael.com/elon-musks-straight-armed-gesture-at-inauguration-ignites-comparisons-to-nazi-salute// |archive-date=January 26, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=The Times of Israel |issn=0040-7909 |oclc=1076401854}} Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive Democratic congresswoman, condemned Musk's gestures and implied that he was "sympathetic to Nazis".{{Cite news |last=Pengelly |first=Martin |date=January 20, 2025 |title=Elon Musk appears to make back-to-back fascist salutes at inauguration rally |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/20/trump-elon-musk-salute |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250206135230/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/20/trump-elon-musk-salute |archive-date=February 6, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=The Guardian |issn=1756-3224 |oclc=60623878}}{{Cite news |last=Irwin |first=Lauren |date=2025-01-22 |title=Ocasio-Cortez slams Musk gesture: 'I'm not with the Nazis' |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/5099854-alexandria-ocasio-cortez-criticizes-elon-musk/ |access-date=2025-04-22 |work=The Hill}} Minnesota governor and vice presidential candidate Tim Walz said that Musk's gesture was "of course" a Nazi salute.{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Elliot |date=2025-01-30 |title=Elon Musk says he might sue Gov. Tim Walz over accusations he gave a Nazi salute |url=https://www.startribune.com/elon-musk-nazi-salute-tim-walz-donald-trump-minnesota/601213890 |access-date=2025-03-13 |website=www.startribune.com |language=en}} Musk said on Twitter that he would consider suing Walz for this statement. After PBS News Hour tweeted that Musk "gave what appeared to be a fascist salute", Texas senator Ted 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."{{Cite web |last=Turcios |first=Carlos |date=2025-01-21 |title=Legacy Media Has Meltdown Over Elon Musk Hand Gesture |url=https://dallasexpress.com/national/legacy-media-has-meltdown-over-elon-musk-hand-gesture/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250430102135/https://dallasexpress.com/national/legacy-media-has-meltdown-over-elon-musk-hand-gesture/ |archive-date=2025-04-30 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Dallas Express |language=en}} Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene defended Musk, accusing news outlets of lying about him and spreading "propaganda to serve the Democrat party".{{Cite magazine |last=Olmsted |first=Edith |date=January 21, 2025 |title=MTG Threatens PBS for Accurately Describing Elon Musk's Salute |url=https://newrepublic.com/post/190481/marjorie-taylor-greene-elon-musk-salute-pbs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129035741/https://newrepublic.com/post/190481/marjorie-taylor-greene-elon-musk-salute-pbs |archive-date=January 29, 2025 |access-date=January 24, 2025 |magazine=The New Republic |issn=2169-2416 |oclc=1759945}} Israeli professor at Columbia University and pro-Israel activist Shai Davidai said: "I don't care who you are, doing a Nazi salute is never ok." Republican representative Elise Stefanik, Trump's nominee to serve as ambassador to the United Nations, defended Musk at her confirmation hearing.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/stefanik-defends-musk-s-gestures-during-confirmation-hearing-229864005531 |title='Elon Musk did not do those salutes': Stefanik defends Musk during confirmation hearing |date=January 21, 2025 |medium=Internet video |publisher=NBC News |access-date=January 24, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130032106/https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/stefanik-defends-musk-s-gestures-during-confirmation-hearing-229864005531 |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |url-status=live |quote=[Video description:] Elise Stefanik, President Trump's nominee to serve as ambassador to the United Nations, defended Elon Musk's gesture that many interpreted as a Nazi salute, when questioned by Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn. |people=Chris Murphy, Elise Stefanik}}{{cite web |author=Mueller |first=Julia |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Stefanik, Murphy clash over Musk gesture at confirmation hearing |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5098723-stefanik-murphy-musk-gesture/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124222322/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5098723-stefanik-murphy-musk-gesture/ |archive-date=January 24, 2025 |access-date=January 24, 2025 |work=The Hill |publisher=Nexstar Media Group |publication-date=January 21, 2025 |issn=1521-1568 |oclc=31153202}} On the late-night sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, cast members James Austin Johnson (as Trump) and Michael Che lampooned the moment in the show's cold open and Weekend Update segment.{{Cite news |last=Irwin |first=Lauren |date=January 26, 2025 |title=SNL cold open spoofs signing of Declaration of Independence with Hamilton, Trump |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5107216-snl-cold-open-spoofs-signing-of-declaration-of-independence-with-hamilton-trump/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126195817/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5107216-snl-cold-open-spoofs-signing-of-declaration-of-independence-with-hamilton-trump/ |archive-date=January 26, 2025 |access-date=February 4, 2025 |newspaper=The Hill |publisher=Nexstar Media Group |issn=1521-1568 |oclc=31153202}}{{Cite web |last=Oganesyan |first=Natalie |date=January 25, 2025 |title=Weekend Update{{'s}} Michael Che On Elon Musk's Salute: "The Nazis Made Nice Cars" |url=https://deadline.com/2025/01/weekend-update-michael-che-elon-musk-salute-nazi-tesla-1236268280/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126102517/https://deadline.com/2025/01/weekend-update-michael-che-elon-musk-salute-nazi-tesla-1236268280/ |archive-date=January 26, 2025 |access-date=February 4, 2025 |website=Deadline Hollywood |publisher=Penske Media Corporation}}{{Cite news |last=Evans |first=Greg |date=February 3, 2025 |title=SNL comedian uses five words to explain why 'Elon Musk is not a Nazi' |url=https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/news/snl-elon-musk-michael-che-nazi-salute-b2686731.html |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250204052701/https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/news/snl-elon-musk-michael-che-nazi-salute-b2686731.html |archive-date=February 4, 2025 |access-date=February 4, 2025 |newspaper=The Independent |issn=1741-9743 |oclc=185201487}} During a CNN 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 of Trump derangement syndrome", and told them to "lawyer up". Catherine Rampell challenged him to repeat the gesture on air, which he did not.{{Cite web |last=Liddell |first=James |date=January 28, 2025 |title=CNN guest challenges Elon Musk defender Scott Jennings to mimic infamous 'Nazi salute' live on TV |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/scott-jennings-musk-salute-catherine-rampell-b2687628.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250205212239/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/scott-jennings-musk-salute-catherine-rampell-b2687628.html |archive-date=February 5, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=The Independent |issn=1741-9743 |oclc=185201487}}{{Cite web |last=Mastrangelo |first=Dominick |date=January 28, 2025 |title=CNN panelist dares Scott Jennings to perform Musk salute on live TV |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5110403-scott-jennings-elon-musk-salute/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129154838/https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5110403-scott-jennings-elon-musk-salute/ |archive-date=January 29, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=The Hill |publisher=Nexstar Media Group |issn=1521-1568 |oclc=31153202}}

A YouGov 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.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-01 |title=YouGov Survey: Elon Musk's Gesture |url=https://d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/Elon_Musk_Gesture_poll_results.pdf |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=YouGov}}

The Simon 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.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-20 |title=Statement from The Simon Wiesenthal Center on Elon Musk's 2025 Inauguration Salute |url=https://www.wiesenthal.com/about/news/statement-from-the-simon-4.html |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=Simon Wiesenthal Center}} The Jewish 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."{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Jaylan |date=2025-01-20 |title=JCPA Condemns Elon Musk's Fascist Salute at Trump Inauguration Rally |url=https://jewishpublicaffairs.org/news/jcpa-condemns-elon-musks-fascist-salute-at-trump-inauguration-rally/ |access-date=2025-04-21 |website=Jewish Council for Public Affairs |language=en-US}} The Jerusalem Post said that many Jewish groups accused Musk of performing an "unambiguous" Nazi salute.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-23 |title=Elon Musk makes Holocaust jokes after Netanyahu defends him as 'great friend of Israel' |url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-839006 |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=The Jerusalem Post |language=en}}

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 party Alternative für Deutschland and the increase in extremism he has allowed on Twitter, which she said contributed to normalizing antisemitic and extremist views.{{Cite web |last=Pengelly |first=Martin |date=January 26, 2025 |title=Jewish non-profit chief says Musk will spur violence with his 'Nazi salute' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/26/elon-musk-far-right-antisemitism |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130062917/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/26/elon-musk-far-right-antisemitism |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=The Guardian |issn=1756-3224 |oclc=60623878}} She gave the example of Musk'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", which Musk commented was "the actual truth".{{Cite news |date=2023-11-17 |title=White House criticises Elon Musk over 'hideous' antisemitic lie |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-67446800 |access-date=2025-04-21 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} He later apologized and called it his "worst and dumbest" post. Spitalnick questioned this apology, and said that Musk's "embrace of antisemitism and extremism" will make Jews and other communities less safe.

Michel Friedman, German former Christian Democrat politician and former deputy chair of the Central 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".{{Cite news |last=Connolly |first=Kate |date=January 22, 2025 |title='The gesture speaks for itself': Germans respond to Musk's apparent Nazi salute |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/21/the-gesture-speaks-for-itself-germans-divided-over-musks-apparent-nazi-salute |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250128105600/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/21/the-gesture-speaks-for-itself-germans-divided-over-musks-apparent-nazi-salute |archive-date=January 28, 2025 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |website=The Guardian |issn=1756-3224 |oclc=60623878}}{{Cite news |title=Michel Friedman im Gespräch: "Es gibt keine Erinnerungskultur in Deutschland" |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/michel-friedman-im-gesprach-es-gibt-keine-erinnerungskultur-in-deutschland-13056241.html |access-date=2025-04-21 |work=Der Tagesspiegel Online |language=de-DE |issn=1865-2263}} Masha Pearl, executive director of Holocaust survivor charity The Blue Card, said that it was a Nazi salute, and called it "an unmistakable symbol of hate, of violence, of genocide". In Canada, Holocaust survivor David Moskovic stated he was alarmed by Musk's salute.{{cite news |last=Baxter |first=David |date=January 25, 2025 |title=Auschwitz survivor says he was alarmed by Elon Musk's gesture at Trump event |url=https://www.elliotlaketoday.com/national-news/auschwitz-survivor-says-he-was-alarmed-by-elon-musks-gesture-at-trump-event-10126657 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127164102/https://www.elliotlaketoday.com/national-news/auschwitz-survivor-says-he-was-alarmed-by-elon-musks-gesture-at-trump-event-10126657 |archive-date=January 27, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Elliot Lake Today |agency=The Canadian Press}} A coalition of Jewish organizations in the US and Canada announced that they would be leaving X in response to the incident.{{cite web |last1=Contreras |first1=Russell |date=January 28, 2025 |title=Coalition of Jewish groups say they're leaving X over Musk's behavior |url=https://www.axios.com/2025/01/28/jewish-groups-leaving-x-musk-antisemitism |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129185832/https://www.axios.com/2025/01/28/jewish-groups-leaving-x-musk-antisemitism |archive-date=January 29, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=Axios}} Some asset managers have received pressure from Jewish investors to sell Tesla stock in response.{{Cite web |last=Hetzner |first=Christiaan |title=Tesla investors at a loss as Elon Musk drags down stock price: 'This time it feels different' |url=https://fortune.com/2025/03/22/tesla-investors-elon-musk-drags-stock-price-down/ |access-date=2025-03-24 |website=Fortune |language=en}}

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.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-04 |title=More Than 100 Jewish Leaders Are Calling Out Musk's Antisemitism |url=https://www.xouthate.org/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=X Out Hate |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last1=Oremus |first1=Will |last2=Jiménez |first2=Andrea |date=2025-02-04 |title=Some Jewish leaders renew calls for X boycott as Musk's power grows |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/02/04/jewish-leaders-boycott-x-musk-nazi-salute/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}

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,{{Cite web |date=2025-01-21 |title=War Elon Musks Geste vor Trump-Anhängern ein Hitlergruß? |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/war-elon-musks-geste-vor-trump-anhaengern-ein-hitlergruss-110244366.html |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |language=de |quote=Der Hightech-Milliardär Elon Musk hat mit einer an den Hitlergruß erinnernden Geste für Aufsehen gesorgt. |trans-quote=High-tech billionaire Elon Musk caused a stir with a gesture reminiscent of the Nazi salute.}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-20 |title=Musk sorgt mit Hitlergruß-ähnlicher Geste für Aufsehen |trans-title=Musk causes a stir with a gesture similar to a Nazi salute |url=https://www.welt.de/newsticker/dpa_nt/infoline_nt/politik_ausland_nt/article255189858/Musk-sorgt-mit-Hitlergruss-aehnlicher-Geste-fuer-Aufsehen.html |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Die Welt |language=de}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-20 |title=Musk sorgt mit Hitlergruß-ähnlicher Geste für Aufsehen |trans-title=Musk causes a stir with a Hitler salute-like gesture |url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/dpa/trump-amtseinfuehrung-musk-sorgt-mit-hitlergruss-aehnlicher-geste-fuer-aufsehen/30176262.html |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Handelsblatt}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-21 |title=Nach Trump-Rede: Musk zeigt Geste, die an Hitlergruß erinnert |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/musk-hitlergruss-trump-vereidigung-li.3186644 |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Süddeutsche Zeitung |language=de |quote=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. |trans-quote=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.}} as an "alleged Nazi salute", as a "Nazi salute gesture", and simply as a "Nazi salute".{{Cite news |last= |date=2025-01-21 |title=Amtseinführung von Donald Trump: Elon Musk irritiert mit mutmaßlichem Hitlergruß |trans-title=Donald Trump's inauguration: Elon Musk irritates with alleged Nazi salute |url=https://www.zeit.de/politik/2025-01/donald-trump-amtseinfuehrung-rede-elon-musk |access-date=2025-04-25 |work=Die Zeit |language=de-DE |issn=0044-2070}}{{Cite news |date=2025-01-22 |title="Keinen Platz für Verharmlosung des Nationalsozialismus": Linke fordert nach Hitlergruß-Geste Einreiseverbot für Musk |trans-title=“No room for trivialization of Nazism”: Die Linke demands entry ban for Musk after Nazi salute gesture |url=https://www.tagesspiegel.de/politik/offenkundiger-unterstutzer-der-extremen-rechten-linke-fordert-nach-hitlergruss-geste-einreiseverbot-fur-musk-13068301.html |access-date=2025-04-25 |work=Der Tagesspiegel |language=de-DE |issn=1865-2263}}{{Cite news |last=Pengelly |first=Martin |title=Elon Musk zeigt Hitlergruß bei Trump-Amtseinführung |trans-title=Elon Musk makes Nazi salute at Trump's inauguration |url=https://www.freitag.de/autoren/the-guardian/elon-musk-zeigt-hitlergruss-bei-trump-amtseinfuehrung |access-date=2025-04-25 |work=Der Freitag |language=de |issn=0945-2095}}{{efn|In German, the Nazi salute is referred to as Hitlergruß ('Hitler salute').}} Stefanie Stork wrote in the Frankfurter 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."{{Cite web |last=Stork |first=Stefanie |date=2025-01-31 |title=Wie sieht es das Strafrecht? Elon Musks verbotener Gruß |url=https://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/kolumnen/wie-sieht-es-das-strafrecht-elon-musks-verbotener-gruss-110265939.html |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung |language=de |quote=Es ist auszuschließen, dass Musk nicht wusste, welcher Symbolik er sich bediente, als er die Bewegung eines zum Gruß nach oben gestreckten Arms ausführte.}} In an interview with Der Spiegel, Kira Ayyadi of the anti-extremism Amadeu Antonio Foundation said: "That was definitely a Nazi salute."{{Cite news |last=Duhm |first=Lisa |date=2025-01-22 |title=Kira Ayyadi über Musks kontroverse Geste: »Das war definitiv ein Hitlergruß« |url=https://www.spiegel.de/panorama/justiz/elon-musk-geste-bei-trumps-antrittsfeier-das-war-definitiv-ein-hitlergruss-a-82846438-8752-451b-9ece-52b2256d5f24 |access-date=2025-04-25 |work=Der Spiegel |language=de |issn=2195-1349}} Anna Schneider in Die Welt was skeptical, writing: "The mob needs its material, and the material is called Nazi."{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Anna |date=2025-01-23 |title=Elon Musks "Hitlergruß": Entpört euch! |url=https://www.welt.de/debatte/plus255195702/Elon-Musks-Hitlergruss-Entpoert-euch.html |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Die Welt |language=de |quote=Die Meute braucht ihren Stoff, und der Stoff heißt Nazi.}} Lenz Jacobsen wrote in Die 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'."{{Cite news |last=Jacobsen |first=Lenz |date=2025-01-21 |title=Elon Musk: Ein Hitlergruß ist ein Hitlergruß ist ein Hitlergruß |url=https://www.zeit.de/kultur/2025-01/elon-musk-hitlergruss-amtseinfuehrung-donald-trump |access-date=2025-04-25 |work=Die Zeit |language=de-DE |issn=0044-2070 |quote=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".}} Timo Feldhaus wrote in the Berliner 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."{{Cite web |last=Feldhaus |first=Timo |date=2025-01-22 |title=Der Hitlergruß von Elon Musk: Nicht von der Kunstfreiheit gedeckt |url=https://www.berliner-zeitung.de/kultur-vergnuegen/jonathan-meese-und-elon-musk-derselbe-hitlergruss-aber-andere-diktaturen-li.2290703 |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Berliner Zeitung |language=de |quote=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.}} Andreas Biller wrote in Focus magazine that Musk's gesture "was recognised by most observers as clearly a Nazi salute".{{Cite news |last=Biller |first=Andreas |date=2025-01-24 |title=Nach Hitlergruß-Skandal macht Elon Musk jetzt einfach Nazi-Witze |url=https://www.focus.de/politik/ausland/auf-twitter-nach-hitlergruss-skandal-macht-elon-musk-jetzt-einfach-nazi-witze_607cfc85-d60b-4730-9793-51ab09882f52.html |access-date=2025-04-26 |work=Focus |quote=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.}} In Stern 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-right AfD politician and former history teacher Björn Höcke was twice convicted of using the banned Nazi slogan "Alles für Deutschland", despite having claimed not to know that it was the slogan of the Sturmabteilung Nazi paramilitary.{{Cite news |last=Gritti |first=Félice |date=2025-01-21 |title=Elon Musk und das Problem mit den Codes |url=https://www.stern.de/politik/elon-musk-und-der-moegliche-hitlergruss--das-problem-mit-den-codes-35401178.html |access-date=2025-04-26 |work=Stern}} Further articles in the Süddeutsche Zeitung,{{Cite web |last=Beise |first=Marc |date=2025-01-21 |title=Elon Musks rechter Arm in der Luft: kontroverse Geste bei Trumps Amtseinführung |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/elon-musks-rechter-arm-luft-roemischer-gruss-kontext-bedeutung-li.3186779?reduced=true |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Süddeutsche Zeitung |language=de}} Handelsblatt,{{Cite web |last=Prange |first=Sven |date=2025-01-24 |title=Darum könnte der Hitlergruß von Elon Musk Strategie sein |url=https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/us-wahl-darum-koennte-der-hitlergruss-von-elon-musk-strategie-sein/100102595.html |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Handelsblatt}} Die Tageszeitung,{{Cite news |last=Joswig |first=Gareth |date=2025-01-21 |title=Elon Musks Hitlergruß: Entscheidend ist der Kontext |url=https://taz.de/Elon-Musks-Hitlergruss/!6060000/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |work=Die Tageszeitung |language=de |issn=0931-9085}} Frankfurter Rundschau,{{Cite web |last=Hesse |first=Michael |date=2025-01-22 |title=Elon Musk: Der Gruß der Nazis |url=https://www.fr.de/kultur/gesellschaft/elon-musk-der-gruss-der-nazis-93529461.html |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Frankfurter Rundschau |language=de}} and Rheinische Post{{Cite web |last=Döbler |first=Moritz |date=2025-01-21 |title=Amtseinführung von Donald Trump: Elon Musk und der Hitlergruß |url=https://rp-online.de/politik/ausland/elon-musk-zeigt-hitlergruss-bei-donald-trumps-amtseinfuehrung_aid-123292621 |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=Rheinische Post |language=de}} 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 the use of other extremist symbols and slogans. Public broadcaster Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg said that Musk's gesture "is in principle a punishable offence in Germany".

When asked about the incident, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that Europe will not accept support for extreme-right positions. Musk reacted to the remarks on X by mocking Scholz.{{Cite news |last=Murray |first=Miranda |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Germany's Scholz responds to Musk, saying freedom of speech must not back extreme-right |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/germanys-scholz-responds-musk-saying-freedom-speech-must-not-back-extreme-right-2025-01-21/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125193648/https://www.reuters.com/world/germanys-scholz-responds-musk-saying-freedom-speech-must-not-back-extreme-right-2025-01-21/ |archive-date=January 25, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=Reuters}} The German party Die Linke called for Musk to be banned from entering Germany, citing both the gestures and Musk's past support for Germany's far-right AfD party and his continued interference in European politics.{{cite web |last=Strauß |first=Hagen |date=January 22, 2025 |title='Unterstützer der extremen Rechten': Linke will Einreisesperre für Elon Musk |trans-title='Supporter of the Extreme Right': Die Linke calls for Entry Ban for Elon Musk |url=https://rp-online.de/politik/deutschland/elon-musk-linke-will-einreiseverbot-fuer-trump-berater_aid-123327325 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123062821/https://rp-online.de/politik/deutschland/elon-musk-linke-will-einreiseverbot-fuer-trump-berater_aid-123327325 |archive-date=January 23, 2025 |access-date=January 22, 2025 |work=Rheinische Post |language=de}} Austria's Green Party also called for a similar ban.{{cite news |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Österreichs Grüne fordern Einreiseverbot für Elon Musk |trans-title=Austria's Greens Demand Entry Ban for Elon Musk |url=https://kurier.at/politik/ausland/elon-musk-donald-trump-einreiseverbot-oesterreich/403001192 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130023523/https://kurier.at/politik/ausland/elon-musk-donald-trump-einreiseverbot-oesterreich/403001192 |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |access-date=January 22, 2025 |work=Kurier |language=de |issn=2308-0973 |oclc=849575488}} Austrian green politician Lukas Hammer called both Interior and Foreign Ministries to consider the possibility of denying Musk's entry.{{Cite news |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Protest against Elon Musk after 'Hitler salute' |url=https://www.krone.at/3662101 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124003402/https://www.krone.at/3662101 |archive-date=January 24, 2025 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |website=Kronen Zeitung}} British anti-Brexit activist group, Led By Donkeys, projected an image of Musk's gesture onto the Tesla Gigafactory in the city of Berlin with the phrase "Heil Tesla", accompanied by social media posts which criticized Musk's political views.{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Greg |date=January 26, 2025 |title=SNL comedian uses five words to explain why 'Elon Musk is not a Nazi' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/snl-elon-musk-nazi-salute-b2686485.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127132259/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/snl-elon-musk-michael-che-nazi-salute-b2686731.html |archive-date=January 27, 2025 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |website=The Independent |issn=1741-9743 |oclc=185201487}}{{Cite web |date=January 23, 2025 |title=After Musk gesture, activists project 'Heil' on Tesla plant |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250123-after-musk-gesture-activists-project-heil-on-tesla-plant |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127183306/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250123-after-musk-gesture-activists-project-heil-on-tesla-plant |archive-date=January 27, 2025 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |website=France 24 |agency=Agence France-Presse}}{{Cite web |date=January 24, 2025 |title=Police investigate Musk salute projected on Tesla factory |url=https://www.dw.com/en/german-police-investigate-musk-salute-projected-on-tesla-factory/a-71403737 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127075918/https://www.dw.com/en/german-police-investigate-musk-salute-projected-on-tesla-factory/a-71403737 |archive-date=January 27, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=Deutsche Welle}} 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.

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 to The 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".{{Cite news |last1=Tankersley |first1=Jim |last2=Schuetze |first2=Christopher F. |date=January 27, 2025 |title=Musk Says Germany Has 'Too Much of a Focus on Past Guilt' |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/27/world/europe/musk-germany-afd-auschwitz.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130155819/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/27/world/europe/musk-germany-afd-auschwitz.html |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |work=The New York Times |issn=1553-8095 |oclc=1645522}} Danny Dayan, chair of Holocaust memorial Yad 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."{{Cite web |date=2025-01-26 |title=Yad Vashem chairman rebukes Musk: Germany must acknowledge its dark past |url=https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/01/26/yad-vashem-chairman-rebukes-musk-germany-must-acknowledge-its-dark-past/ |access-date=2025-04-26 |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Treisman |first=Rachel |date=2025-01-27 |title=Elon Musk faces criticism for encouraging Germans to move beyond 'past guilt' |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/01/27/nx-s1-5276084/elon-musk-german-far-right-afd-holocaust |access-date=2025-04-26 |work=NPR |language=en}}

Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, defended Musk on X, stating that Musk "is being falsely smeared" and calling him "a great friend of Israel".{{Cite web |last=Roeloffs |first=Mary Whitfill |date=January 23, 2025 |title=Netanyahu Defends Elon Musk Amid 'Nazi Salute' Allegations |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2025/01/23/netanyahu-defends-elon-musk-amid-nazi-salute-allegations/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250128005449/https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2025/01/23/netanyahu-defends-elon-musk-amid-nazi-salute-allegations/ |archive-date=January 28, 2025 |access-date=January 24, 2025 |website=Forbes |issn=0015-6914 |oclc=6465733}}{{Cite news |last=Spiro |first=Amy |date=January 23, 2025 |title=Netanyahu rises to Elon Musk's defense after X owner accused of performing Nazi salute |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/netanyahu-rises-to-elon-musks-defense-after-x-owner-accused-of-performing-nazi-salute/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126231637/https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/netanyahu-rises-to-elon-musks-defense-after-x-owner-accused-of-performing-nazi-salute/ |archive-date=January 26, 2025 |access-date=January 23, 2025 |work=The Times of Israel |issn=0040-7909 |oclc=1076401854}} Haaretz covered the event with a headline "Elon Musk appears to make fascist salute at Trump inauguration rally."{{Cite news |last=Samuels |first=Ben |date=January 22, 2025 |title=Elon Musk Appears to Make Fascist Salute at Trump Inauguration Rally |url=https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-01-20/ty-article/.premium/elon-musk-appears-to-make-fascist-salute-at-trump-inauguration-rally/00000194-8563-d83f-a597-bff78b4e0000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126113635/https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-01-20/ty-article/.premium/elon-musk-appears-to-make-fascist-salute-at-trump-inauguration-rally/00000194-8563-d83f-a597-bff78b4e0000 |archive-date=January 26, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=Haaretz}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Condon |first=Bernard |date=January 22, 2025 |title=Musk's straight-arm gesture embraced by right-wing extremists regardless of what he meant |url=https://apnews.com/article/musk-gesture-salute-antisemitism-0070dae53c7a73397b104ae645877535 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130185508/https://apnews.com/article/musk-gesture-salute-antisemitism-0070dae53c7a73397b104ae645877535 |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |work=Associated Press}} An Italian communist youth organization, Cambiare Rotta, hung a doll of Musk upside down in Piazzale Loreto, a square in Milan where Mussolini's body was hung in the same manner by partisans after he was executed during the final days of World War II. Italian journalist Roberto 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."{{Cite news |last1=Giordano |first1=Elena |last2=Griera |first2=Max |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Elon Musk's 'Nazi' salute sparks fury from Europe's left wing |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/elon-musk-salute-sparks-fury-from-europe-left-wing/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127102820/https://www.politico.eu/article/elon-musk-salute-sparks-fury-from-europe-left-wing/ |archive-date=January 27, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=Politico Europe |publisher=Axel Springer SE}}

Alexander Lukashenko, president of Belarus, 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."{{Cite web |date=January 26, 2025 |title=Lukashenko comments on Musk's gesture at Trump's inauguration |url=https://report.az/en/other-countries/lukashenko-comments-on-musk-s-gesture-at-trump-s-inauguration/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250206141838/https://report.az/en/other-countries/israel-says-hamas-violated-gaza-ceasefire-agreement/ |archive-date=February 6, 2025 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |website=Report News Agency}} Argentina's President Javier Milei defended Musk at the World Economic Forum's meeting in the city of Davos, 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".{{Cite web |last=Giordano |first=Elena |date=January 23, 2025 |title=Elon Musk's salute was 'innocent,' insists Javier Milei |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/us-elon-musk-salute-was-innocent-insists-argentina-javier-milei/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126205244/https://www.politico.eu/article/us-elon-musk-salute-was-innocent-insists-argentina-javier-milei/ |archive-date=January 26, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=Politico Europe |publisher=Axel Springer SE}} Yolanda Díaz, the Spanish minister of labor and longtime member of the Communist 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".{{Cite news |last=Murray |first=Conor |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Elon Musk's Salute Sparks Criticism From Foreign Leaders And Democrats |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/01/21/elon-musks-salute-sparks-criticism-from-foreign-leaders-and-democrats/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129071123/https://www.forbes.com/sites/conormurray/2025/01/21/elon-musks-salute-sparks-criticism-from-foreign-leaders-and-democrats/ |archive-date=January 29, 2025 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |website=Forbes |issn=0015-6914 |oclc=6465733}} In a radio interview in March, Reform UK leader Nigel 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.{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Peter |date=2025-03-03 |title=Tories compare Nigel Farage to Jeremy Corbyn over Ukraine war |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/mar/03/tories-compare-nigel-farage-to-jeremy-corbyn-over-ukraine-war |access-date=2025-04-25 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}

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 Trump White Power moment". Nick Fuentes, founder of the white nationalist group Groypers, described the gesture as "straight up like 'Sieg Heil', like loving Hitler energy".{{Cite web |last=Beauchamp |first=Zack |date=January 24, 2025 |title=Elon Musk doesn't deserve the benefit of the doubt |url=https://www.vox.com/politics/396535/elon-musk-nazi-salute-trump-inauguration |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250128180148/https://www.vox.com/politics/396535/elon-musk-nazi-salute-trump-inauguration |archive-date=January 28, 2025 |access-date=January 24, 2025 |website=Vox}} Social media influencer Andrew Tate, who has himself performed Nazi salutes, and advocated "bring[ing] the Nazi salute back",{{Cite web |date=2025-03-10 |title=Andrew Tate: Five Things to Know |url=https://www.adl.org/resources/article/andrew-tate-five-things-know |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Anti-Defamation League}} responded to Musk's salute by saying, "we're so back". The admin of a Telegram channel run by the white supremacist Active Club Network (whose members have been recorded making Nazi salutes){{Cite news |last=Kachroo |first=Rohit |date=2025-02-12 |title=Inside Britain's fascist fight club: Secret footage shows far-right group preparing for 'race war' |url=https://www.itv.com/news/2025-02-11/undercover-footage-shows-far-right-group-preparing-for-race-war |access-date=2025-02-12 |work=ITV News}} 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."{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=James |date=2025-01-26 |title=UK neo-Nazi groups 'really excited' by Elon Musk salute |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/24884108.uk-neo-nazi-groups-really-excited-elon-musk-salute/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250126092330/https://www.thenational.scot/news/24884108.uk-neo-nazi-groups-really-excited-elon-musk-salute/ |archive-date=2025-01-26 |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=The National |language=en}} Mark Collett, a neo-Nazi and leader of far-right hate group Patriotic 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." Christopher Pohlhaus, leader of the neo-Nazi group Blood Tribe, posted on Telegram: "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 platform Gab, said: "Incredible things are happening already lmao."{{Cite news |last=Heller |first=Mathilda |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Did Elon Musk Sieg Heil at Trump's inauguration? |url=https://www.jpost.com/international/article-838444 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250203101718/https://www.jpost.com/international/article-838444 |archive-date=February 3, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=The Jerusalem Post |issn=0792-822X |oclc=15700704}}{{Cite magazine |last=Gilbert |first=David |date=January 20, 2025 |title=Neo-Nazis Love the Nazi-Like Salutes Elon Musk Made at Trump's Inauguration |url=https://www.wired.com/story/neo-nazis-love-elon-musk-nazi-like-salutes-trumps-inauguration/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250206065643/https://www.wired.com/story/neo-nazis-love-elon-musk-nazi-like-salutes-trumps-inauguration/ |archive-date=February 6, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |magazine=Wired |publisher=Condé Nast |issn=1078-3148 |oclc=24479723}} A Proud Boys chapter posted a clip of Musk's video to its Telegram channel with the text "Hail Trump!"{{cite news |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Musk salute at Trump rally celebrated by extremists online |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250121-musk-salute-at-trump-rally-celebrated-by-extremists-online |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250128192235/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20250121-musk-salute-at-trump-rally-celebrated-by-extremists-online |archive-date=January 28, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |work=France 24 |agency=Agence France-Presse}} White supremacist movement White 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!"{{Cite news  |last=Jones |first=Mared Gwyn |date=January 22, 2025 |title=Did Elon Musk give a 'Nazi' salute and does it play into the hands of neo-fascist groups? |url=https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/01/22/did-elon-musk-give-a-nazi-salute-and-does-it-play-into-the-hands-of-neo-fascist-groups |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130130508/https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/01/22/did-elon-musk-give-a-nazi-salute-and-does-it-play-into-the-hands-of-neo-fascist-groups |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=Euronews}}

Two weeks after the incident, rapper Kanye West posted several antisemitic and pro-Nazi comments on Twitter,{{cite news |last1=Lenthang |first1=Marlene |date=February 7, 2025 |title=Ye makes offensive comments against Jewish community, says he has 'dominion' over his wife in tirade on X |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ye-appears-to-makes-offensive-comments-jewish-community-praises-hitler-rcna191150 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250208090349/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ye-appears-to-makes-offensive-comments-jewish-community-praises-hitler-rcna191150 |archive-date=February 8, 2025 |access-date=February 9, 2025 |work=NBC News}} among which was an uploaded image of Musk's gesture captioned "heil Elon" in all capitals.{{cite news |last1=Kilander |first1=Gustaf |date=February 9, 2025 |title=David Schwimmer calls on Musk to ban Kanye West from X after 'hate-filled, ignorant' antisemitic rant |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/david-schwimmer-calls-musk-ban-003550816.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250209165748/https://www.yahoo.com/news/david-schwimmer-calls-musk-ban-003550816.html |archive-date=February 9, 2025 |access-date=February 9, 2025 |work=Yahoo! News}} West said: "Elon stole my Nazi swag at the inauguration."{{cite magazine |last1=Kaufman |first1=Gil |date=February 7, 2025 |title=Ye Goes On Hate-Filled, Antisemitic Spree on X Praising Hitler: 'Elon Stole My Nazi Swag at Inauguration' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-antisemitic-hitler-nazi-twitter-1235895504/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250208050349/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kanye-antisemitic-hitler-nazi-twitter-1235895504/ |archive-date=February 8, 2025 |access-date=February 9, 2025 |magazine=Billboard Magazine}}

Many users on X, the social media platform which Musk owns, criticized the gesture, saying it resembled a Nazi salute.{{Cite news |date=January 21, 2025 |title=Elon Musk responds to 'tired' accusations over Donald Trump inauguration hand gesture |url=https://news.sky.com/story/elon-musk-responds-to-tired-accusations-over-donald-trump-inauguration-hand-gesture-13293564 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250126102621/https://news.sky.com/story/elon-musk-responds-to-tired-accusations-over-donald-trump-inauguration-hand-gesture-13293564 |archive-date=January 26, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=Sky News}} Some of Musk's supporters on Twitter said that it was a Roman salute. In response to Musk's gestures, many major subreddits on Reddit instituted new rules banning links to or screenshots of X posts.{{Cite web |last=Gerken |first=Tom |date=January 23, 2025 |title=Over 100 Reddit groups ban X links in protest at Musk arm gesture |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c77r1p887e5o |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129051346/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c77r1p887e5o |archive-date=January 29, 2025 |access-date=January 24, 2025 |website=BBC News}}{{Cite web |last=Pequeño |first=Antonio IV |date=January 24, 2025 |title=Some Major Reddit Forums Ban X Links After Elon Musk's Controversial Salute |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/01/22/reddit-forums-propose-banning-x-links-after-elon-musks-controversial-salute/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250129003517/https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2025/01/24/nba-nfl-subreddits-among-largest-to-ban-x-links-after-elon-musks-controversial-salute/ |archive-date=January 29, 2025 |access-date=January 24, 2025 |website=Forbes |issn=0015-6914 |oclc=6465733}} Sam Kuffel, a meteorologist at CBS 58 in Milwaukee, was fired after she criticized the gesture in two Instagram posts.{{cite web |last1=Bice |first1=Daniel |last2=Spicuzza |first2=Mary |date=January 22, 2025 |title=CBS 58 weather reporter Sam Kuffel is out after criticizing Elon Musk arm gesture |url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2025/01/22/cbs-58s-sam-kuffel-is-out-after-criticizing-elon-musk-arm-gesture/77883983007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250205124152/https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2025/01/22/cbs-58s-sam-kuffel-is-out-after-criticizing-elon-musk-arm-gesture/77883983007/ |archive-date=February 5, 2025 |access-date=January 26, 2025 |website=Milwaukee Journal Sentinel |publisher=Gannett |issn=1082-8850 |oclc=55506548}} Musk's estranged daughter Vivian Wilson spoke out about Musk's gesture, stating: "I'm just gonna say let's call a spade a fucking spade" on Instagram's Threads platform on January 21.{{Cite web |last=Lubin |first=Rhian |date=January 27, 2025 |title=Elon Musk's daughter gives fiery response to 'Nazi salute' accusations |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/elon-musk-daughter-vivian-wilson-nazi-salute-b2686773.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250206070813/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/elon-musk-daughter-vivian-wilson-nazi-salute-b2686773.html |archive-date=February 6, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=The Independent |issn=1741-9743 |oclc=185201487}} Elon Musk's father, Errol, defended Musk, calling the accusations against Elon "absolute nonsense" and "rubbish".{{Cite web |last=Menezes |first=Damita |date=January 23, 2025 |title=Elon Musk's father calls claims Elon made Nazi salute 'rubbish' |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/5101857-elon-musks-father-calls-claims-elon-made-nazi-salute-rubbish/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130130912/https://thehill.com/homenews/5101857-elon-musks-father-calls-claims-elon-made-nazi-salute-rubbish/ |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=The Hill |publisher=Nexstar Media Group |issn=1521-1568 |oclc=31153202}}

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".{{Cite news |last1=Verma |first1=Pranshu |last2=Silverman |first2=Ellie |last3=Pietsch |first3=Bryan |date=January 22, 2025 |title=Elon Musk's inauguration salute stokes debate in Congress, Europe |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/01/21/elon-musk-salute-trump-inauguration/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124043646/https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/01/21/elon-musk-salute-trump-inauguration/ |archive-date=January 24, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=2269358}}

After it was written on Musk's Wikipedia page that his gestures had been "compared to a Nazi salute", Musk reiterated his previous criticism against the website, calling for its "defunding".{{Cite news |last=Sherratt |first=Madeline |date=January 22, 2025 |title=Elon Musk furious after Wikipedia page calls his controversial gesture a 'Nazi salute' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/elon-musk-wikipedia-nazi-salute-inauguration-b2684183.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250128214229/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/elon-musk-wikipedia-nazi-salute-inauguration-b2684183.html |archive-date=January 28, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=The Independent |issn=1741-9743 |oclc=185201487}}{{Cite web |last=Gotfredsen |first=Sarah Grevy |date=January 30, 2025 |title=The Right Takes Aim at Wikipedia |url=https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/wikipedia_musk_right_trump.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250204091946/https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/wikipedia_musk_right_trump.php |archive-date=February 4, 2025 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |website=Columbia Journalism Review |publisher=Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism |issn=2691-6479 |oclc=464657921}} Wikipedia founder Jimmy 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."{{Cite news |last=Leloup |first=Damien |date=2025-01-29 |title=Why Elon Musk is calling for a boycott of Wikipedia |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/pixels/article/2025/01/29/why-elon-musk-is-calling-for-a-boycott-of-wikipedia_6737574_13.html |access-date=2025-04-30 |work=Le Monde |language=en}}

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 the Anti-Defamation League (after previously defending his behavior) called "offensive" and "inappropriate".{{cite web |last1=Fortinsky |first1=Sarah |date=January 23, 2025 |title=ADL, which had defended Musk, takes issue with his Nazi puns |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5103537-adl-which-had-defended-musk-takes-issue-with-his-nazi-puns/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250130130903/https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5103537-adl-which-had-defended-musk-takes-issue-with-his-nazi-puns/ |archive-date=January 30, 2025 |access-date=January 29, 2025 |website=The Hill |publisher=Nexstar Media Group |issn=1521-1568 |oclc=31153202}} The U.S. newspaper The Hill said he used the puns "to taunt those who accused him of making a fascist salute".

In a discussion with Joe 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."{{Cite news |last1=Bidgood |first1=Jess |last2=Nehamas |first2=Nicholas |date=2025-03-03 |title=Social Security and Sex Robots: Musk Veers Off Script With Joe Rogan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/03/us/politics/elon-musk-joe-rogan-podcast.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250307195556/https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/03/us/politics/elon-musk-joe-rogan-podcast.html |archive-date=7 March 2025 |access-date=2025-03-13 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

==Copycat incidents==

British political commentator Calvin Robinson gave a speech at the National Pro-Life Summit in Washington, 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 the Anglican 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,{{cite web |date=January 30, 2025 |title=A Statement on the Revocation of Fr. Calvin Robinson's License |url=https://www.anglicanchurchinamerica.org/single-post/a-statement-on-the-revocation-of-fr-calvin-robinson-s-license |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250206132658/https://www.anglicanchurchinamerica.org/single-post/a-statement-on-the-revocation-of-fr-calvin-robinson-s-license |archive-date=February 6, 2025 |access-date=February 6, 2025 |website=Anglican Church in America}}{{Cite news |last=Dunbar |first=Marina |date=2025-01-30 |title=Michigan priest defrocked after making apparent Nazi salute at anti-abortion summit |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/30/michigan-priest-salute |access-date=2025-03-13 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} and the entire editorial team at his gaming news website, God is a Geek, resigned in protest.{{Cite news |author1=Wilde |first=Tyler |date=January 30, 2025 |title=Gamer priest defrocked and the staff of his God is a Geek website quits after he imitates Elon Musk's salute |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/calvin-robinson-defrocked-god-is-a-geek-staff-resigns/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250206133406/https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/calvin-robinson-defrocked-god-is-a-geek-staff-resigns/ |archive-date=February 6, 2025 |access-date=January 31, 2025 |work=PC Gamer |publisher=Future plc |issn=1080-4471 |oclc=680447102}} 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."

Laura Smith, the Towamencin Township supervisor in Pennsylvania, resigned after posting a TikTok video of her appearing to replicate Musk's gesture. She later deleted the video.{{cite web |author=Roth |first=Fallon |date=January 25, 2025 |title=A Montgomery County official mimicked Elon Musk's controversial 'salute,' sparking outrage online and her resignation from the local library and a nonprofit |url=https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/towamencin-supervisor-laura-smith-nazi-salute-20250125.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127181043/https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/towamencin-supervisor-laura-smith-nazi-salute-20250125.html |archive-date=January 27, 2025 |access-date=January 27, 2025 |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |issn=0885-6613 |oclc=45211992 |quote=Laura Smith, a Towamencin supervisor, said she posted the TikTok to 'stir the pot.' She has since resigned from a library board and a nonprofit.}}

A real estate agent in San 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".{{cite web |last1=Salazar |first1=Melanie Love |title=San Antonio real estate agent loses job after imitating Musk's inauguration salute |url=https://www.lonestarlive.com/news/2025/02/san-antonio-realtor-loses-job-after-imitating-musks-inauguration-salute.html |website=Lone Star Live|date=February 7, 2025 }}

The CEO of an Idaho construction company apologized and later resigned{{Cite web |last1=Caskey |first1=Brady |last2=Jacobson |first2=Kate |date=February 24, 2025 |title=Idaho CEO resigns following controversy over giving "Nazi salute" at corporate event |url=https://www.kivitv.com/news/local-news/in-your-neighborhood/ada-county/idaho-ceo-resigns-following-controversy-over-giving-nazi-salute-at-corporate-event |access-date=February 25, 2025 |publisher=KIVI-TV |language=en}} 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 with hate groups".{{Cite web |last=Bringhurst |first=Tracy |date=February 21, 2025 |title=Idaho construction CEO apologizes after apparent 'Nazi salute' at company event |url=https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/local/idaho-construction-ceo-apologizes-after-apparent-nazi-salute-at-company-event-local/277-053fed3b-f135-4efc-84da-6a67bfd32d79 |access-date=February 22, 2025 |publisher=KTVB |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |first= |date=February 21, 2025 |title=ESI CEO apologizes for controversial skit at company event |url=https://idahonews.com/news/local/esi-ceo-apologizes-for-controversial-skit-at-company-event |access-date=February 22, 2025 |website= |publisher=KBOI-TV |language=en}}

Steve Bannon, who previously served as Chief Strategist and Senior Counselor to Donald Trump in 2017, appeared to replicate Musk's salute during a speech at the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), drawing applause from the audience. Unlike Musk, Bannon did not place his hand to his heart or state "My heart goes out to you".{{Cite web |date=February 21, 2025 |title=Did Steve Bannon flash a Nazi salute at CPAC? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/steve-bannon-cpac-nazi-salute-b2702063.html |access-date=February 21, 2025 |website=The Independent|first=Mary|last=Papenfuss |language=en}} French National Rally politician Jordan Bardella canceled his planned speech at the conference, and called Bannon's action a "gesture alluding to Nazi ideology".{{Cite news |date=22 February 2025 |title=France far-right leader Bardella cancels US speech after ex-Trump aide makes 'Nazi gesture' |url=https://www.france24.com/en/france/20250221-france-far-right-leader-cancels-us-speech-after-ex-trump-aide-makes-nazi-gesture-stage-jordan-bardella |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250221164833/https://www.france24.com/en/france/20250221-france-far-right-leader-cancels-us-speech-after-ex-trump-aide-makes-nazi-gesture-stage-jordan-bardella |archive-date=21 February 2025 |access-date=22 February 2025 |newspaper=France 24}}

Since January 30, there have been five incidents of antisemitism and Nazi salutes at French universities, by students associated with the right-wing UNI student union. According to Johann Chapoutot, a historian specializing in Nazism, Elon Musk's salutes have acted to legitimize Nazi salutes.{{Cite news |last=Dimou |first=Dounia |date=2025-03-05 |title=Nazi salutes and anti-Semitism under investigation at French universities |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2025/03/05/nazi-salutes-and-anti-semitism-under-investigation-at-french-universities_6738848_7.html |access-date=2025-04-30 |work=Le Monde |language=en}}

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