Hours after billionaire tech executive Elon Musk made a gesture at President Donald Trump’s inauguration rally that many people have likened to a Nazi salute, Musk responded on X, writing, “Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired.”

The founder of Tesla and SpaceX and owner of the X social media platform, Musk contributed $250 million to Trump’s presidential campaign. He was at the U.S. Capitol on Monday for Trump’s swearing-in ceremony and spoke at an inauguration event at Capitol One Arena for the new president shortly after he took office.


What You Need To Know

  • Elon Musk said reaction to his hand gesture at Trump's inauguration rally is "sooo tired"

  • During an inauguration rally in Washington on Monday, Musk put his hand over his heart and extended his arm out straight after thanking the crowd for voting for President Donald Trump

  • Musk contributed $250 million to Trump's presidential campaign

  • Nazi and Nazi salute have been trending on social media since Musk made the gesture

“There are elections that come and go, and some elections are important, and some are not, but this one really mattered. And I just want to say thank you for making it happen,” Musk said at the rally before placing his right hand over his heart and extending his arm out straight. 

He repeated the gesture for people seated behind him.

“My heart goes out to you,” Musk told the crowd after making the gesture. “It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured.”

“Nazis” has been trending on X and “Nazi salute” has been trending on Google since Musk gestured at the rally. 

Far-right Irish writer Keith Woods wrote on X on Monday, “Ok maybe woke really is dead.” 

The Anti-Defamation League, a nongovernmental group that works to fight antisemitism, however, defended Musk.

“It seems that @elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge,” the ADL posted on X. “In this moment, all sides should give one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath.”

While many mainstream media outlets called out the move as being unusual, odd or awkward, they stopped short of calling it a Nazi salute. Other reactions have been more pointed.

The right-leaning social media platform Telegram was abuzz with support for Musk’s hand gesture. An Ohio chapter of the Proud Boys posted the video clip with the words, “Hail Trump!” while the neo-Nazi group Blood Tribe also posted the clip on Telegram Monday, saying, “I don’t care if this was a mistake. I’m going to enjoy the tears over it.”