The internet practically melted on January 20, 2025. One second, everyone is watching the typical pomp and circumstance of a presidential transition, and the next, the world’s richest man is standing on a stage at the Capital One Arena doing something... well, unexpected. If you saw the clip, you know exactly why people are asking why did elon musk salute in a way that looked, to many eyes, hauntingly familiar.
It wasn’t just a quick wave. Musk had just finished a high-energy speech—complete with some of his signature "dad dancing"—celebrating Donald Trump’s return to the White House. He told the crowd that the "future of civilization is assured." Then, he slapped his right hand over his heart and thrust his arm straight out and upward, palm down. He didn't just do it once; he turned around and did it again for the people behind the stage.
The reaction was instant. Brutal. Messy. Some called it a "fascist Roman salute." Others saw a "Sieg Heil." Meanwhile, his supporters argued it was just an awkward guy being, well, awkward.
The Gesture That Set the World on Fire
Honestly, the context matters as much as the hand movement. Musk wasn't just a guest; he was essentially the co-pilot of the new administration, recently tapped to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). When he took the stage at the post-inauguration celebration, the energy was through the roof.
But when that arm went up, the mood in the digital world shifted from political play-by-bit to a full-blown crisis of interpretation. For many, the straight-arm salute with a flat palm is the universal symbol of the Nazi regime. In Germany, where the gesture is actually a crime, the backlash was fierce. Major outlets like the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and Der Spiegel didn't hold back, with some commentators calling it an "unambiguous" signal.
Then you had the domestic reaction. Representative Jerry Nadler, a long-standing Jewish Democrat from New York, took to X (the very platform Musk owns) to call the gesture "abhorrent" and "antisemitic." He argued that seeing such a sign behind the Presidential seal was a dark moment for the country.
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Is it a Roman Salute or Something Else?
Right after the clip went viral, "Roman salute" started trending. This is where things get historically "kinda" complicated. Historically, the Roman salute—arm extended, palm down—was popularized in 19th-century art and theater as a supposed greeting from ancient Rome.
The problem? Most historians agree there’s actually no proof the ancient Romans ever really used it.
Instead, it was famously adopted by Italian fascists under Mussolini and later, of course, by Hitler’s Nazi party. In the American context, there’s also the "Bellamy salute," which was used during the Pledge of Allegiance until 1942, when it was scrapped precisely because it looked too much like what was happening in Germany.
What Musk Says About the "Dirty Tricks"
Musk didn't issue a formal, corporate-style press release. That’s not his style. Instead, he did what he always does: he posted on X. He dismissed the entire controversy as a smear campaign, calling the accusations "dirty tricks" and claiming the "everyone is Hitler" attack is "sooo tired."
Basically, his defense is that he was just showing love to the crowd. If you watch the full video, he starts with his hand on his heart. The argument from his camp—and notably from Senator Ted Cruz—is that he was simply extending that "heart-felt" gesture outward to the audience. Cruz even slammed PBS News for reporting it as a fascist salute, accusing them of "lying."
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Interestingly, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which has bumped heads with Musk in the past, actually took a more cautious stance. They called it an "awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm" rather than a deliberate Nazi salute. They essentially asked for everyone to take a breath and give the guy the benefit of the doubt.
The Divide in Public Opinion
We actually have some data on how people perceived this. A YouGov survey conducted shortly after the event showed a perfectly split public. About 42% of Americans who watched the video saw it as a Nazi or Roman salute. On the flip side, another 42% agreed with the "gesture from the heart" explanation.
It’s a Rorschach test in human form. If you already think Musk is flirting with far-right ideologies—citing his past posts about "great replacement" theories or his support for the AfD party in Germany—you probably saw a fascist. If you see him as a quirky, socially awkward visionary who just saved the country's budget, you saw a guy who doesn't know what to do with his hands.
Experts Weigh In on the Symbolism
It's worth noting that experts on extremism were just as divided as the public. Jared Holt from the Institute for Strategic Dialogue mentioned he was skeptical it was on purpose because it would be "an act of self-sabotage that wouldn't really make much sense."
But then you have Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a history professor at NYU who specializes in fascism. Her take? It was a "very belligerent" Nazi salute. The nuance here is that in the world of semiotics (the study of signs), the intent of the person making the gesture often matters less than the impact it has on the audience.
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And the impact was undeniable:
- Neo-Nazi groups on Telegram and platforms like Kiwifarms reportedly celebrated the move, seeing it as a "dog whistle" or a sign of "white power."
- European leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, expressed concern over Musk’s alignment with extreme-right positions.
- Even Musk's own daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson, weighed in on Threads, reportedly calling the gesture "definitely a Nazi salute."
Why Did Elon Musk Salute: The Practical Takeaway
So, where does that leave us? Usually, when someone asks why did elon musk salute, they are looking for a "smoking gun" of intent. We probably won't get one. Musk is famously impulsive and has previously mentioned his self-diagnosis of being on the autism spectrum, which some supporters use to explain away his "bizarre" or "awkward" physical mannerisms.
However, the reality of 2026 is that symbols carry immense weight. Whether it was a "heart-to-crowd" gesture gone wrong or a deliberate provocation, it has fundamentally changed how a huge portion of the world views his role in the new government.
If you're trying to make sense of this for yourself, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Watch the whole clip: Don't just look at the screenshot. Look at the transition from his hand on his chest to the extension. It helps you decide if the "from the heart" theory holds water.
- Contextualize his history: Look at his recent political trajectory. His alignment with the "Anti-Woke" movement and his financial backing of the Trump campaign provide the "why" behind the intense scrutiny.
- Recognize the legal stakes: This isn't just a Twitter fight. In countries like Germany and Austria, the legal implications of this gesture are real. This could affect how his companies, like Tesla, operate or are perceived in European markets.
Whether it was a massive "oops" or a calculated signal, the "Musk Salute" is now a permanent part of the 2025 inauguration's legacy. It serves as a reminder that when you're the most powerful private citizen on earth, there's no such thing as an "accidental" gesture in the eyes of the public.
To stay informed on how this impacts government policy, you should keep a close eye on the early reports coming out of the Department of Government Efficiency. The controversy over the salute may be a distraction, but the policy changes Musk is pushing will have a much longer-lasting impact than a five-second clip from a rally.