After billionaire Elon Musk appeared to give a "Nazi salute" to the crowd at a Trump rally during yesterday's inauguration festivities, not once but twice, neo-Nazis celebrated his actions in their online channels.
Following President Donald Trump's swearing-in, Musk spoke at a rally held at D.C.'s Capital One Arena and said:
“Elections come and go, some elections are important, some are not, but this one really mattered. And I just want to say thank you for making it happen. Thank you.”
At this moment, Musk placed his right hand on his chest before extending it outward with his palm facing down and fingers pressed together—a gesture historically known as the “Roman salute.”
This gesture, co-opted by fascist movements in the early 20th century, is most infamously associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party in Germany. It remains a symbol tied to the far-right, particularly among fascist groups in Italy.
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After making the gesture initially, Musk turned to face the crowd seated behind him and, with his back to the camera, repeated the same action before saying:
"My heart goes out to you."
You can see the moment in the video below.
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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) January 20, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Neo-Nazis almost instantly came out of the woodwork to praise Musk.
Andrew Torba, the founder of Gab—a social media site known for platforming antisemites and white supremacists—said:
“Incredible things are happening."
Torba later said that Musk's critics are engaging in "the first major media hoax during the new Trump administration. He called the gesture "harmless, perhaps even playful, but certainly not the sinister act it was later portrayed to be by the media."
He later insisted that "the outrage exposes the media’s vulnerabilities, undermines their authority, and advances our agenda all at once. And as we move forward, we can expect more of these calculated moves, each one designed to chip away at the opposition’s credibility while solidifying our own."
Telegram channels filled with neo-Nazis also blew up, with Christopher Pohlhaus, the leader of the American neo-Nazi group Blood Tribe, saying:
“I don’t care if this was a mistake, I’m going to enjoy the tears over it."
Evan Kilgore, a right-wing political commentator and Holocaust denier, called Musk's action "incredible":
“Holy crap … did Elon Musk just Heil Hitler at the Trump Inauguration Rally in Washington DC… This is incredible. We are so back.”
His supporters were similarly ecstatic.
According to Claire Aubin, a historian who specializes in Nazism within the United States, Musk's gesture was very much a "sieg heil":
"My professional opinion is that you're all right, you should believe your eyes, and you don't need me to tell you all what you already know is true."
Similarly, Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a history professor at New York University, said:
"Historian of fascism here. It was a Nazi salute and a very belligerent one too."
Journalist and educator Mike Stuchbery also called the salute what it is:
"I studied the Nazis at university, taught the history of Nazi Germany on two continents and wrote for major newspapers about Nazi Germany. I am internet famous for fact-checking chuds on the history, ideology and policy of Nazi Germany. That was a Nazi salute."
Musk was met with outrage.
Musk later mocked his critics, insisting they'd blown the salute out of proportion:
"Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The “everyone is Hitler” attack is sooo tired."
Musk has otherwise not responded to news outlets requesting comment.
Musk was criticized for his ties to antisemitic and white supremacist groups earlier this month after he spoke with Alice Weidel, the chancellor candidate for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Germany's domestic intelligence agency has placed AfD under surveillance, citing concerns over suspected right-wing extremism—a claim the party denies. The AfD, known for its hardline positions against immigration and Islam, has faced accusations of members using Nazi slogans in speeches and minimizing the significance of the Holocaust.
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