Elon Musk faced backlash after allegations that he performed a “Nazi-style” salute during Donald Trump’s January 20, 2025, inauguration. The SpaceX CEO attended the event to support Trump, who took office as the 47th U.S. President.
During Trump’s speech, Musk praised the audience for their support and spoke about raising an American flag on Mars. However, his gesture—pounding his chest and raising his arm toward the sky—sparked controversy, with some comparing it to a Nazi salute. The incident drew criticism on social media, with users posting comments like, “Elon Musk just did a Nazi salute on national television.”
CNN anchors also noted the gesture’s resemblance to historical salutes. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) defines the Nazi salute as “raising an outstretched right arm with the palm down.”
Musk responded to the accusations on his platform, X, dismissing them as part of a “dirty tricks campaign” by political opponents. He criticized the claims as tired attacks, adding, “The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired.”