Elon Musk's Daughter Criticizes His Controversial Gesture: "Call a Spade a Spade"

Vivian Wilson, Elon Musk's transgender daughter, has publicly criticized her father’s actions at Donald Trump’s inauguration, where Musk performed a gesture widely interpreted as a Nazi salute.

While some media outlets and organizations have downplayed the incident, Wilson took to social media to express her disapproval, calling for accountability.

Posting on Threads, a platform rivaling Musk's X (formerly Twitter), Wilson wrote, “Let’s call a spade a spade. Especially if there were two spades done in succession based on the reaction of the first spade.”

Her statement referenced Musk’s gesture, performed twice—once toward the crowd in front of him and again toward a group behind him.

The gesture sparked alarm among many viewers, but some outlets and organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), dismissed it as a misinterpreted act. The ADL called it an “awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute.” 

Other outlets, like NBC News, referred to it as Musk “forcefully touch[ing] his heart, before raising his hand and saluting supporters.”

Critics defending Musk suggested the gesture was either a symbol of love or a reference to a Roman salute. However, historian Martin Winkler has clarified that such a Roman salute never existed in ancient times.

In response, Wilson sarcastically remarked, “I don’t know why y’all are reacting with such vigor. I’m clearly only talking about card suits... People assuming otherwise just shows how dishonest people and the media can be.”

Wilson has previously distanced herself from Musk. In April 2022, she filed a petition in Los Angeles County Superior Court to legally change her name and gender, citing her “gender identity” and her desire to sever ties with her biological father.

Since then, Wilson has spoken out about what she described as Musk’s “cruel” treatment of her during her childhood.

In her latest comments, Wilson criticized the media's hesitance to hold Musk accountable. “For those who can read between the lines, do y’all understand how easy this is to do? Plausible deniability, honey. Just saying,” she added, hinting at how public figures often use ambiguity to evade responsibility.

The incident highlights ongoing tensions between Musk and his daughter, as well as broader debates over public accountability and the normalization of harmful gestures in the political and social spheres.