Elon Musk under fire over Nazi salute

Tech billionaire and X owner Elon Musk faced backlash on social media after a gesture he made during the oath-taking ceremony of the 47th US President Donald Trump was widely interpreted as a 'Nazi salute.'

The SpaceX chief came under fire for making the controversial gesture multiple times as he approached the podium at the Capital One Arena in Washington on Monday, during celebrations of Trump’s return to power.

Musk, appearing visibly excited about Trump’s inauguration, stood at the podium, tapped his left chest with his right hand, and then raised his arm with an open palm. He repeated the gesture to the audience seated behind him.

The particular style of salute known as Sieg Heil, historically associated with the Nazi Party, was adopted in 1926 as an official gesture to express loyalty to Adolf Hitler.

The gesture is considered offensive and illegal in several European countries, including Germany, Austria, and Slovakia.

The incident sparked widespread criticism, prompting a response from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an anti-Semitism watchdog.

While acknowledging the controversy, the ADL urged people to give Musk “the benefit of the doubt,” suggesting that he may have made the gesture unknowingly in a moment of excitement rather than with malicious intent.

However, the ADL’s explanation drew further backlash online, with critics accusing the organisation of double standards. Many argued that if a pro-Palestinian had made a similar gesture, they would have been immediately labeled anti-Semitic.