Elon Musk refuted when criticized for waving his arms ‘like a fascist’

On January 20, Elon Musk took the stage at the Capital One Arena in Washington, where supporters of President Donald Trump gathered to watch his inauguration. After thanking the crowd for voting for Mr. Trump to come to power for a second time, the world’s richest billionaire patted the left side of his chest with his right hand and then stretched out his arm with an open palm, repeating the gesture. just there with the audience sitting behind him.

“My heart goes out to you. Thanks to you, the future of civilization is secured,” Musk said.

The action from Tesla’s boss immediately attracted attention online.

Claire Aubin, a historian specializing in fascism in the US, said that Musk’s gesture was “sieg heil”, the Nazi salute. “In my professional opinion, everyone is right, you should believe your eyes,” Aubin posted on X, agreeing with those who think Musk’s actions are fascist innuendo.

“I never imagined that we would see the day when a Hitler-like salute would be made behind the Presidential seal,” wrote Jerry Nadler, a Democratic congressman from New York. on It is anti-Semitic in nature”.

Responding to critics, Musk said that his opponents would need “more dirty tricks” if they wanted to harm him. “The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is boring,” he said.

The Anti-Defamation League, an organization founded to combat anti-Semitism and which has criticized Musk in the past, defended his actions this time.

“It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of excitement, not a fascist salute,” the organization said in a statement posted on X.

Historian Aaron Astor shares the same view. “I have repeatedly criticized Elon Musk for allowing neo-Nazis to pollute the platform,” he wrote on X. “But that gesture was not a Nazi salute.”

“That’s how a socially awkward autistic man waved to the crowd and said ‘my heart goes out to you,'” Astor said.

In 2021, Musk announced that he had Asperger syndrome, a form of autism.

One person attending the event at the arena said he only thought Musk did such an action as a way to interact with the crowd.

“Musk is very funny and sarcastic. So when he did it on stage, I don’t think he meant it,” said Brandon Galambos, a 29-year-old pastor and tech worker.