Overview

• Elon Musk made a hand gesture during Trump's inauguration that many observers, including historians and anti-hate groups, identified as resembling a Nazi salute.
• Critics argue the gesture aligns with Musk's documented history of engaging with far-right ideologies and amplifying antisemitic content on his social media platform, X.
• Musk has denied the accusations, dismissing them as a smear campaign by his opponents, and has not issued an apology for the gesture.
• The controversy has been amplified by Musk's history of supporting far-right political figures and parties, including Germany's Alternative für Deutschland (AfD).
• Reactions to the incident have varied widely, with some defending Musk as socially awkward or misinterpreted, while others, including Jewish organizations, have condemned his actions and subsequent Holocaust-related jokes.