- Elon Musk sparked controversy with two hand gestures during his speech at Donald Trump’s inauguration celebrations. Now, the billionaire is accusing critics of using “dirty tricks” to undermine him.
Elon Musk has accused critics of using “dirty tricks” amid a debate over two hand gestures the billionaire made during his speech at President Donald Trump’s inauguration celebrations.
After thanking the crowd for electing Trump, Musk slapped his chest and twice lifted his right arm on an upward diagonal during his speech at the inauguration—prompting comparisons with the Nazi “Sieg Heil” salute.
“My heart goes out to you,” he told the crowd after making the gesture.
The clip quickly went viral, with some quick to condemn it as an intentional fascist salute. Multiple international news outlets have reported on the gesture and questioned its similarities to the Nazi gesture.
New York Congressman Jerry Nadler was among the voices condemning Musk. In a post on X, Nadler said: “I never imagined we would see the day when what appears to be a Heil Hitler salute would be made behind the Presidential seal.”
“This abhorrent gesture has no place in our society and belongs in the darkest chapters of human history. I urge all of my colleagues to unite in condemning this hateful gesture for what it is: antisemitism,” he wrote.
Right-wing extremists have also shared the gesture. Andrew Torba, founder of the far-right Christian Nationalist social media platform Gab, posted an image of the gesture to his account with the caption: “Incredible things are happening already lmao.”
Musk has responded to the controversy, sharing an X post that called the salute debate a “hoax” and part of a “dirty tricks campaign” against him.
“Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired,” Musk said in the post.
Musk made an “awkward gesture”
The Anti-Defamation League, which tracks anti-Semitism, has come to Musk’s defense amid the online debate.
In a social media post, the ADL said the Tesla CEO had made an “awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm.” The ADL said the gesture was “not a Nazi salute.”
“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. Let’s hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years ahead,” the nonprofit wrote.
The ADL’s post sparked a backlash from some Democrats, including Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who accused the organization of “defending a Heil Hitler salute that was performed and repeated for emphasis and clarity.”
Representatives for Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fortune.
Bezos praised Trump’s peaceful transfer of power
Trump’s inauguration was a final victory lap for Musk, who has spent $277 million to back Trump and Republican candidates.
The billionaire attended the President’s inauguration alongside fellow tech titans Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai, and Tim Cook.
The parade oftech CEOs also accompanied Trump to his inaugural celebrations, including a church service on Monday morning.
Musk was the only major tech leader to speak at the festivities, delivering a speech he kicked off by dancing onto the stage.
After the inauguration, Bezos praised President Trump’s peaceful transfer of power, saying it has been “an honor to witness it up close.”
In a post on X following the inauguration, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders took aim at the billionaire’s ringside seats.
Sharing an image of Bezos, Zuckerberg, Musk, and Pichai, Sanders wrote: “When the 3 wealthiest men in America sit behind Trump at his inauguration, everyone understands that the billionaire class now controls our government.”