Billionaire Elon Musk's hand gesture during President Donald Trump's inauguration celebration sparked online comparisons to a Nazi salute. However, a prominent tracker of antisemitism viewed it as a moment of enthusiasm rather than a sinister symbol.
Musk brushed off the criticism of the gesture as a "tired" attack.
Addressing the crowd at the Capital One Arena in Washington amid loud cheers, Musk exclaimed, "Yesssss," emphasizing the significance of the moment in human civilization and expressing gratitude: "This one really mattered. Thank you for making it happen! Thank you."
Following this, he made a distinctive gesture by thumping his right hand over his heart, extending his right arm out at an upward angle, and then repeating the gesture for the crowd behind him, signifying gratitude for their role in securing the future of civilization.
While the gestures received swift online scrutiny, the Anti-Defamation League disagreed with the Nazi salute comparisons: "It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm."
In Germany, Jewish community president Charlotte Knobloch found Musk's gesture "highly irritating" and raised concerns about his political affiliations, particularly his support for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.
Despite the controversy, Musk defended himself, criticizing the accusations and emphasizing his optimistic vision for the future. He shared a Fox video clip on social media that omitted the initial controversial gesture and reiterated his excitement about the future.
Requests for comments from a representative of Trump went unanswered, while some supporters of Musk on social media defended his gesture as one of expressing empathy.