The scene takes place on January 20, 2025 at the Capital One Arena in Washington. Elon Musk, the boss of SpaceX and Tesla, takes the stage during the meeting celebrating Donald Trump’s inauguration. After an enthusiastic speech thanking the crowd for the new president’s victory, the billionaire made a gesture that immediately sparked a media storm: ihe hits his left chest with his right hand before extending his arm, palm open. A gesture that he repeats a second time, turning towards the assembly.
In a few hours, the images went around the world. Social networks are on fire, experts are opposing, and Elon Musk finds himself at the heart of a new controversy that goes well beyond American borders.
A gesture that divides historians and Jewish organizations
Claire Aubin, historian specializing in Nazism in the United States, does not hesitate to describe the gesture as “ Sieg Heil “. His analysis is shared by Ruth Ben-Ghiat, expert on fascism, who goes further by emphasizing the character “ aggressive » of salvation. For these specialists, the political context reinforces their concerns. Elon Musk has recently increased his declarations of support for European far-right parties, notably the AfD in Germany.
The ADL, an organization fighting anti-Semitism, however, adopts a radically different position. In a message published on X, she defends the billionaire by speaking of a “ clumsy gesture in a moment of enthusiasm “. This position provokes the indignation of several personalities, including the elected Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who accuses the organization of defending a “ salute Heil Hitler ».
Between deliberate provocation and social awkwardness
The debate intensifies when historian Aaron Astor sheds different light. He recalls Elon Musk’s Asperger syndrome, publicly announced in 2021, and interprets the gesture as « a socially awkward hand signal from an autistic man where he says to the crowd “my heart goes out to you” ».
This analysis is partially supported by Brandon Galambos, pastor present in the room. For him, the gesture was more about “ humor “et you” sarcasm ”, characteristics that he attributes to the billionaire’s personality.
-Elon Musk himself reacted quickly to X, calling the accusations “ twisted blow » and denouncing a “ “everyone is Hitler” attack so outdated “. His defense does not prevent the international media from taking up the subject. The Israeli daily Haaretz and the British The Guardian evoke a greeting “ fascist ”, while the German press is divided. The conservative Das Bild speaks of a “ strange gesture ”, when Die Zeit headlines on a “ Hitler salute movement ».
Amy Spitalnick, director of the Jewish organization JCPA, puts the incident in a broader context. She emphasizes that this gesture is part of “ the wake of his explicit support for far-right policies and parties “. An analysis shared by David Bensoussan, former president of the Unified Sephardic Community of Quebec, which recalls the recent political positions of the billionaire.
Wouldn’t this be yet another action by the richest man on the planet aiming once again to put himself in the media spotlight, which, obviously, works here?
The controversy highlights the growing polarization of American society, where every gesture can trigger radically opposing interpretations.
- Elon Musk Makes Controversial Gesture During Trump’s Washington Meeting
- Experts divide between fascist interpretation and clumsiness linked to autism
- The incident is part of a broader debate over the billionaire’s political positions
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