Did he give a Nazi salute on stage?

Sulfurous. Elon Musk caused astonishment during a gathering of Donald Trump supporters in Washington, United States, Monday January 20, 2025. That's the least we can say.

On two occasions he performed a brief greeting strongly reminiscent of another. And that some have unequivocally described as “fascist” or “Nazi”while others defended “a clumsy gesture” or misinterpreted.

The boss of X (ex-Twitter), SpaceX and Tesla then gave a speech on stageat Capital One Arena. Donald Trump supporters had gathered there for a meeting of the new American president, a few hours after his inauguration.

The businessman thanked the crowd for allowing the billionaire's return to the White House. Before tapping his left chest with his right hand, extending his arm with his palm open, then repeating the gesture while turning towards the rest of the crowd behind him.

“Fascist” or “fascist style” for some

Historian Claire Aubin, specialist in Nazism in the United States, estimated that Elon Musk's gesture was indeed a Sieg Heil » (“Hail to victory”, in German). Another expert historian on fascism, Ruth Ben-Ghiat also affirmed that “it was indeed a Nazi salute, and one which was very aggressive at that”.

Some foreign daily newspapers like the Israeli Haaretz or the BritishThe Guardian explained that the American billionaire “appeared” to have performed a “fascist” salute or “fascist style”.

“Well, it didn't take long,” criticized Democratic congressman Jimmy Gomez on X (owned by Elon Musk), in reaction to an image of the richest man in the world doing this salute on stage.

“It seems like he had kept it inside him for a while and that he was finally able to let go,” denounced former Democratic congresswoman Cori Bush, still on trained in front of the mirror to find the exact angle,” she quipped.

“Crowned moves”, defends Elon Musk

Despite around ten publications on his own social network after making his gesture, Elon Musk did not immediately react to the emerging controversy. He did so this Tuesday, January 21, by suggesting to his detractors to find “best dirty tricks”in a message posted on his platform.

Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The “everyone is Hitler” attack is so tired.

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“He's very funny and he uses sarcasm a lot,” she told the AFP Brandon Galambos, a 29-year-old pastor who was present in the meeting room. “Obviously the left is going to pick up on this and say he's a Nazi or whatever, but I think it was just humorous the way he did it. »

(New) support for the far right?

According to the magazineWiredmany far-right personalities in the United States rejoiced at the event, such as columnist Evan Kilgore, who praised an “incredible” gesture.

In recent weeks, Elon Musk has increased his declarations of support for the far-right German party AfD, but also for the far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, or for the British anti-immigration party Reform UK.

« Elon Musk knew precisely what he was doing with this fascist Roman salute at Trump's rally today – which comes in the wake of his explicit support for far-right policies and parties,” Amy Spitalnick, head of the Jewish organization JCPA, said in a statement.

“Awkward” for others

The ADL association for the fight against anti-Semitism, which has clashed with the billionaire in the past, this time came to his defense. “It appears that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute,” the organization wrote on X.

Left-wing elected official Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slammed this reaction from the ADL.'You are defending a salute'Heil Hitler'performed and repeated'retorted the Democrat on X. “People can officially stop looking to you as a credible source of information,” she added.

For historian Aaron Astor, the billionaire's salute should not be categorized as Nazi. He also expressed his doubts about X.

I have criticized Elon Musk on numerous occasions for allowing neo-Nazis to pollute this platform. But this gesture is not a Nazi salute. It's a socially awkward hand signal from an autistic man where he says to the crowd “my heart goes out to you.”

Elon Musk announced in 2021 that he had Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism. A neurological disorder that may be characterized by difficulty communicating and a so-called above-average level of intelligence.

(with AFP)

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