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Elon Musk Accused of Giving Nazi Salute at Trump Inauguration
Above: Elon Musk speaking during 60th presidential inauguration parade at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC on Jan. 20, 2025. Image copyright: Kent Nishimura/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Facts
Elon Musk's appearance at US Pres. Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday sparked controversy, after he made gestures that drew comparisons to a Nazi salute.
Musk, who will head Trump's newly created Department of Government Efficiency, entered the stage at Capital One Arena in Washington DC to cheers from the crowd. He pumped his arms in the air and jubilantly shouted: "Yes!"
"This was no ordinary victory. This was a fork in the road of human civilization," he said, before thanking the crowd for "making it happen."
The Spin
Narrative A
It's utterly unfathomable that on day one of the Trump presidency, we would openly see a Nazi salute being made from behind the presidential seal. The abhorrent gesture should be condemned for what it is: blatant antisemitism.
Narrative B
Musk has long been a friend to the Jewish community, and viewing the gesture in context clearly indicates that he was trying to physically express his comment: "My heart goes out to you." There's no need to invent outrage and to sow division by manipulating this gesture.
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The Controversies
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