‘Two Heil Hitler Salutes’: Musk’s Gestures Reverberate Through Capitol And Beyond
Billionaire threw what appeared to many as a Nazi salute during inauguration event
The stiff-armed gestures billionaire Elon Musk gave Monday during an inaugural event for Donald Trump in Washington DC continues to generate attention because they appeared to be the salute common during Nazi Germany.
The gestures captured wide attention, including among figures on the far-right as well as among lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
“I just want to say thank you for making it happen,” Musk said during a speech at Capital One Arena on Monday afternoon, referring to Trump’s victory in the presidential election. Then he slapped his hand on his chest, extended his arm straight outward and upward with his palm facing downwards. He turned around and made a similar gesture facing the other way.
Musk, who has been a prominent backer of —and adviser to — Trump, made the remarks and gestures at a podium displaying the seal of the president of the United States.
Musk only fanned the flames of suspicion by not explicitly denying the intent of the gestures in a dozen social media posts since, though he did make light of the criticism and lashed out at people making that interpretation.
The intent, however, was clear to others who saw it.
Several white nationalists and other far-right figures praised and felt emboldened by Musk’s gestures.
They also caught attention from members of Congress in the last couple of days.
“That was a Nazi salute. And he didn‘t just do it one time. He did it twice for emphasis,” said Rep Robert Garcia (D-Calif). “And if you talk to anyone, historians, folks who actually study the Nazis and study this actual kind of disgusting display, have been very clear what that was.
“And he should not just apologize, he should be condemned for those kinds of actions. So, gross, disgusting, but more of what we can expect, I think, from Elon Musk and Donald Trump,” Garcia added.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) unloaded on Musk and his actions in an online video.
“This is the United States of America. And, I don’t care what Elon Musk is doing behind a presidential seal. In this country, we hate Nazis, kind of like a foundational defining thing. Two of probably the most foundational defining things about American history is that we beat the Confederates and we beat the Nazis,” she said. “And I don’t know what side people may be on today, but I still am not rocking with anyone sympathetic to Nazis, and I will do that until I am six feet in the ground. Like, kind of foundational to me as a human being.
“And so, if you’re cool and want to defend the sieg hails [sic] and the Nazi salutes, all the — you know, whatever you wanna do, that’s on you,” she added. “I’m on the opposite side of that. I’m not with the Nazis. How about that?But it’s very important for us to assert these things.”
Musk’s behavior even made it into the confirmation hearing of Rep Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Trump’s nominee for ambassador to the United Nations.
“What do you think of Elon Musk, perhaps the president’s most visible adviser, doing two Heil Hitler salutes last night at the president’s televised rally?” Sen Chris Murphy (D-NY) asked her.
Stefanik denied the gestures were Nazi salutes and attributed the incident to exuberance on Musk’s part.
Murphy, however, was not deterred.
“Let me share with you what a few Americans have said about it. Evan Kilgore, a right-wing political commentator, wrote on X, ‘Holy crap, did Elon Musk just Heil Hitler at the Trump inauguration rally? This is incredible. We are so back.’ Andrew Torba, who’s the founder of the right-wing Christian nationalist social platform Gab, said, ‘Incredible things are happening,’ as he amplified the visual. The Proud Boys chapter in Ohio posted the clip on its Telegram channel with the text, ‘Heil Trump.’ A chapter of the white nationalist group White Lives Matter posted it on Telegram, ‘Thanks for hearing us, Elon. The white flame will rise again.’ I could keep going,” Murphy said at Tuesday’s hearing. “Over and over last night, white supremacist groups and neo-Nazi groups in this country rallied around that visual.”
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