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Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, has sparked controversy by mocking accusations of performing a Nazi salute at an event following President Trump’s inauguration. Early Thursday, Musk posted a series of puns referencing Adolf Hitler and other Nazi leaders on his platform, X.
“Don’t say Hess to Nazi accusations! Some people will Goebbels anything down! Stop Gőring your enemies,” Musk wrote, referring to prominent Nazi figures Rudolf Hess, Joseph Goebbels, and Hermann Gőring.
He added, “His pronouns would’ve been He/Himmler! Bet you did nazi that coming,” with a laughing emoji, referencing Heinrich Himmler, who orchestrated the Holocaust’s extermination campaigns.
Musk denied the allegations, claiming that the gesture, which critics labeled a Nazi salute, was intended as a symbol of love and that the mainstream media misrepresented his actions.
Criticism has poured in from political figures, including Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), who accused Musk of signaling support to neo-Nazi groups worldwide. During an appearance on MSNBC, Murphy said Musk has a history of spreading antisemitic conspiracy theories and aligning with far-right agendas.
He pointed to far-right groups celebrating Musk’s actions on Telegram, saying, “Neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups here in the United States said, ‘That’s our guy. That’s our signal. Donald Trump’s with us.’”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) also condemned Musk’s actions, describing the gesture as a Nazi salute and declaring, “I’m on the opposite side of that. I’m not with the Nazis.” She emphasized that opposing Nazis is a fundamental American value.
Despite the backlash, Musk has received support from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who defended him on social media. Netanyahu wrote, “@elonmusk is being falsely smeared.
Elon is a great friend of Israel,” highlighting Musk’s visit to Israel after Hamas attacks on October 7 and his public support for Israel’s right to self-defense.
Trump has not commented on the controversy surrounding Musk’s gestures. Musk has been a prominent supporter of Trump, investing billions in his campaign and attending major events. Some Democrats have speculated that Musk plays a behind-the-scenes role in Trump’s decision-making.
The controversy continues to draw sharp divisions, with Musk’s actions interpreted differently across political and social lines.
