Trump inauguration: Musk causes a stir with a Hitler salute-like gesture

Tech billionaire Elon Musk caused a stir at an event for the inauguration of US President Donald Trump with a gesture similar to the Hitler salute.

Musk was one of the speakers on stage before Trump’s arrival at Washington’s Capital One Arena. He thanked the new president’s supporters, then held his right hand to his heart – and extended it upwards in a quick movement. He then repeated the gesture again in a different direction. “My heart goes out to you,” he said afterwards.

Many users on Musk’s online platform X noted that the gesture was reminiscent of a Hitler salute. The news channel CNN repeated the scene several times in its program. The viewers themselves are smart enough to form their own opinions, said a presenter.

No explanation from Musk

There was initially no explanation from Musk about the gesture. But he shared a recording of his speech from Fox News on his

During his appearance, Musk said that Trump’s election had “secured the future of civilization.” All of humanity was at a fork in the road.

Musk had previously raved about the “return of the king” on the day of Trump’s swearing-in. Musk illustrated the post on his online platform X with two screenshots: the once blocked Trump account on Twitter and the new official presidential profile. Trump was banned from X’s predecessor, Twitter, in January 2021 after his supporters stormed the Capitol in Washington. Musk reactivated the Trump account after he bought Twitter in October 2022 for around $44 billion.