Elon Musk Sparks Fury Over Alleged ‘Nazi Salute’ at Trump Celebration
Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, is facing backlash after a gesture during a post-inauguration bash for President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., was slammed as a “Nazi salute” by furious social media users.
Gesture on Stage Causes Storm
Musk took to the stage at Capital One Arena to address a crowd of Trump supporters following Trump’s swearing-in as the 47th US president. Mid-speech, Musk placed his right hand on his chest before raising it into the air – a move that quickly ignited a firestorm online.
Videos of the moment spread like wildfire, with some accusing Tesla and SpaceX’s CEO of performing a blatant Nazi salute.
“Elon Musk just did a Hitler salute on stage. This is horrifying,” one user tweeted.
Yet not everyone agreed. Musk’s supporters rushed to his defence, claiming the gesture was simply a heartfelt nod to the crowd.
“He was extending his heart to the audience. People are taking this completely out of context,” said one fan, sharing a slowed-down clip to back up their claim.
Musk’s Speech: Patriotic Thanks and Space Dreams
During his address, Musk thanked the crowd for helping secure Trump’s election victory:
“Elections come and go, some are important, some are not. But this one really mattered, and I just want to say thank you for making it happen. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured.”
He then sparked cheers by imagining American astronauts planting the US flag on Mars, even mimicking the action with a flagpole on stage.
“Can you imagine how awesome it will be to have American astronauts plant the flag on another planet for the first time?”
Musk capped the moment by declaring, “We’re going to take Doge to Mars,” a nod to his love for Dogecoin and a jibe at efficiency reforms under what he called the “Department of Government Efficiency.”
Twitter Divided, Musk Silent
While critics demand that Musk explain his intentions, the billionaire has remained silent amidst the swirling controversy.
This latest storm adds to Musk’s string of headline-grabbing, polarising appearances and shows just how charged the political climate is as Trump returns to power. Musk’s close ties to the Trump administration only stoke the flames further.
