Donald J. Trump was recently inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States of America last Monday, January 20, but what came after shocked the entire world as Elon Musk's short speech also saw him making the "Nazi salute." What sparked even more outrage from the public is that Musk did not only do it once, but twice, which made it so that he intended to deliver this kind of message.
Now, the internet is both blasting and defending Musk because of his recent portrayal of what is known and considered a hate crime gesture, with many being concerned that the upcoming Trump administration is set to focus on fascism.
Elon Musk Sparks Controversy with 'Nazi Salute' on Trump Rally
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 20, 2025
After President Trump was sworn in as the current leader of the country, one of his closest colleagues was brought on stage to deliver a speech for the new administration which turned out to be one of the biggest controversies surrounding his run. It is because Elon Musk was seen making a Nazi-like salute during his speech, and the executive did it twice, with the other one expressed to the people behind him.
It has since been the talk of the town following Trump's inauguration, particularly as many found this action to beoffensive, and many are blasting the executive yet again in a new controversy surrounding his beliefs. Moreover, it also dragged the name of the latest President as both are known to be close allies.
That being said, some supporters defended Musk, saying that the gesture of putting one's right arm to their chest and then extending one's arm forcefully with all fingers pointing upwards is the 'Roman salute.'
However, Phillip Bump of the Washington Post claimed that this so-called "Roman salute" has already changed meaning after 1945, claiming that its association is clearly with the Nazis.
Public Concerned on Trump's Fascism Is Coming Soon
With this, there are now massive concerns that Musk's display of the alleged Nazi salute has massive precursors to President Trump's leadership, particularly as both are known to be close. Many are already claiming that fascism is on its way from Musk and Trump, with the public fearing that this may be the start of a different regime.
Elon Musk and His 'Pro-Nazi' Controversy
The recent Trump rally was not the first time that Elon Musk was the center of controversy on pro-Nazi campaigns, particularly as back in 2023, the renowned tech executive saw many advertisers departing the platform because of his actions. It even went as far as having the White House, under Joe Biden's administration, release a statement that denounced Musk's actions and his antisemitic posts.
Many companies were previous advertisers on X that left the platform or temporarily withdrew their ads because of the antisemitism portrayed by its owner, causing the social media to lose a lot in the process. Companies like IBM, Apple, Oracle, Comcast Xfinity, Disney, Hyundai, and more have pulled out of X as they disapprove of the so-called Neo-Nazi ideology support from Musk.
With this, Musk looked to renew his stance on the issue by previously visiting the Auschwitz Death Camp in Oswiecim, Poland after he was met with backlash on his previous posts on X. Now, Musk is back at it again with the pro-Nazi gestures by performing the salute twice not only in front of a crowd, but to millions watching worldwide, sparking fears on the incoming Trump administration.
