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Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, SpaceX, and X, as well as head of the Department of Government Efficiency, sparked controversy during his speech at President Donald Trump’s post-inauguration rally on January 20, 2025. Some media outlets claimed Musk made a Nazi salute during his address at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. However, upon closer examination, this accusation appears to lack credibility.
During the event, Musk gestured while saying, “My heart goes out to you,” a moment CNN described as resembling a Nazi salute. One anchor remarked, “It’s a salute. It was quick… it’s not something that you typically see at American political rallies.”
The claim spread across social media, with individuals like historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat asserting the gesture was “a Nazi salute – and a very belligerent one too.” Other critics framed Musk’s action as inappropriate for such a high-profile event.
However, many observers provided additional context. According to Charlie Kirk, “Musk pounded his chest and waved at the crowd while expressing gratitude to the supporters in attendance.” Others, including Jaimee Michell, pointed out the exaggerated nature of the accusation, calling it absurd to interpret the gesture as Nazism, especially when Musk’s own words and intentions were taken into account.
Further context shows Musk’s well-documented condemnation of anti-Semitism and totalitarian regimes. He visited Auschwitz alongside Ben Shapiro last year to better understand Jewish history and the Holocaust, actions inconsistent with the ideology he is being accused of signaling.
While gestures can be misconstrued, particularly in emotionally charged moments, there is no evidence from Musk’s political or personal history to suggest he sympathizes with Nazi ideology. The claim appears to stem from selective interpretation, rather than factual basis.
Verdict: The claim that Elon Musk performed a Nazi salute during Trump’s inauguration rally is unsupported. It was a mischaracterization of his gesture during an emotionally resonant speech.
