Musk raises eyebrows with salute gesture at Trump rally

I remember when the Colorado Supreme Court removed Trump from that state's 2024 ballot.

Remember how giddy and elated you felt, believing that Trump would not even be eligible to run for president? And you thought Biden would roar into office?

You do?

Then you are part of the woke movement that was erased today with one signature by PRESIDENT Trump.

Prior to WWII, the pledge of allegiance used a very similar gesture. 

Um yeah, there is a reason they stopped doing that around the same time WW2 happened you know.

Nobody knows what his intention was except the man himself.

Very true

But it sure was a dumb thing to do. 

Why?

maga usually like saying stuff like “judge a man by his action, it it quacks like a duck etc” Ok then.

I judge a man by their intentions, speaking of Schiff.....

The defensive of this seems to be based on 'he's got a mental condition' or 'he has a behavioral disorder'.

If so, why is he anywhere near the presdential office?

pretty sure he did this in jest, knowing full well what the reaction would be.

people gotta stop taking the bait.

Why is it always right-wingers who "mistakently" make a nazi salute?

Listen, I know it's fun to sit around and get all worked up into a tizzy about Trump and all that crap, but come on- do you really think he meant to salute Hitler or whatever? Give me a break.

Nobody knows what his intention was except the man himself. But it sure was a dumb thing to do.

maga usually like saying stuff like “judge a man by his action, it it quacks like a duck etc” Ok then.

Musk clearly enjoys the adulation of the Trump fans. Not fully used to it yet, carried away, so does the Nazi salute without thinking, just wanting to thank people for their vote. Possible, but autistic or not, he has to be aware of what that gesture means historically. He has to have enough self control to realize even in the heat of the moment what he does.

Other possibility is that he knew exactly how it would look, and is either trolling or means it.

Whatever the reasons, it was a Nazi salute, it looks bad and is bad. But that's the guy you now have as sort of government supervisor...Good luck with that.

But of course as long as he isn't "woke" our rightist sheep will love him.

Settle down

Are people not allowed to express themselves now?

have at it...but take note of the moderators comment above...basically saying exactly what I have...settle down

Not sure why this raised eyebrows. The Republican Party has been preaching the same ideals as Nazis for years. Makes perfect sense and was 100% an intentional salute to the Nazis that now occupy the White House.

ROFL...Elon has made it clear what MAGA-world is - a radical cult no different than 1930's Germany...

His rallies remind me more of Benito Mussolini's but I guess that is kind of splitting hairs. We have a dark four years ahead. The US will be fortunate if it has even one democratic friend when this is over. Even without the Greenland and Panama Canal threats the proposed tariffs are going to create enemies for American around the world and do tremendous damage to the US economy.

I also fear using the uniformed military against civilians will tear the military apart and weaken it greatly. A large proportion of the active and reserve forces come from immigrant families like mine, and a lot of DoD employees likewise come from immigrant backgrounds and share their ethnic heritage with groups the administration seeks to target. I would not be surprised to see mutinies among some units as members refuse to go against their own people. It will cost the military much good will among the US population. Or the US will send troops into Mexico chasing drug gangs and get bogged down in an unwinnable war where the cartels corrupt our military as they have corrupted the Mexican and other Latin American armed forces.

I also fear that China will take advantage of a weakened US economy and a military in turmoil to attack Taiwan and the US will be incapable of stopping them.

Ya'll voted for him. Now it's time to watch what your vote does for the next 4+ years.

So much complaining.

That might be the future of Tesla sock holders.

So much complaining.

The LA-based Simon Wiesenthal Center, an organization of Holocaust survivors, posted these comments on its web site:

URL: https://www.wiesenthal.com/about/news/statement-from-the-simon-4.html

Elon Musk has become a prominent figure on the global stage, but his actions today at President Trump’s inauguration have raised serious concerns. His unexpected double salute, which resembled gestures associated with troubling historical connotations, is challenging to understand—especially as he has recently engaged with Germany’s domestic politics by seemingly supporting the AfD party, known for its far-right elements. 

The Nazi salute, officially known as the “Hitler salute,” originated in Nazi Germany as a gesture of loyalty and obedience to Adolf Hitler and the ideals of the National Socialist Party. The Nazi salute was inspired by the ancient Roman salute, a gesture thought to symbolize strength and unity in classical antiquity.

Now, serving as a key member of the Trump administration, Mr. Musk has significant responsibilities and a new international platform. It would be appropriate for him to clarify or apologize for today’s gesture and focus his energy on tackling the critical challenges ahead.

Who cares?

Prior to WWII, the pledge of allegiance used a very similar gesture. With Musk, it comes across more like Buzz Lightyear.

I would not be surprised since Musk voiced his support for the extreme rightwing parties in Europe, has an "eye" for the Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, and told King Charles to dissolve parliament and call a new general election.

I'm sure this will be great for Tesla sales.

More nonsense from the losers.

See if people will still buy Tesla. At this point I'm looking at other EVs and there are lots of choices.

His grandkids are Jewish, proof right there.

We are talking about President Musk, not the sidekick Trump.

All readers, please control your emotions. If you have already posted here and made your point, there is no need to post any further comments.

Don't worry yall, I know you guys are easily whipped into a Nazi ghost-chasing frenzy, especially on the day of this historic inauguration. All your worst nightmares are coming real, it must be terrifying. Project at will, do what you have to do because Israel and the Jewish nation know perfectly well who their friends are, and who their friends were not!

It seems we're getting a taste of the desperation the left is resorting just hours into Trump's presidency. Who knows how deep it'll go over the next few years, but they're already making fingernail marks in the bottom of the barrel. Can't wait to see what they come up with next!

They won't skip a beat. Welcome to planet Bitter! Bet those parties are fun ;P

For the adults in the room, let's see what happens ay? ;)

Its the Trump defenders bending themselves over backwards trying to explain away their new leader's Nazi salute as anything but a Nazi salute just hours into Trump's presidency that reek of desperation.

The delusion is strong in this one.

Settle down

Are people not allowed to express themselves now?

Actual historians of Nazis, fascism and holocaust have clearly expressed their opinions about this:

https://x.com/waitmanb/status/1881446968679088467

https://x.com/ruthbenghiat/status/1881460628164120641

Settle down

It seems we're getting a taste of the desperation the left is resorting just hours into Trump's presidency.

Its the Trump defenders bending themselves over backwards trying to explain away their new leader's Nazi salute as anything but a Nazi salute just hours into Trump's presidency that reek of desperation.

Can't wait to see what they come up with next!

Have fun with that!

It seems we're getting a taste of the desperation the left is resorting just hours into Trump's presidency. Who knows how deep it'll go over the next few years, but they're already making fingernail marks in the bottom of the barrel. Can't wait to see what they come up with next!

This won't be the last in a long line of public displays of "look at me" Elon Musk overwhelming desire need to attention.

I feel nothing but saddened for his malady.

The Anti Defamation League (ADL), an organization founded to combat anti-Semitism which has criticized Musk in the past, defended his actions this time around.

"It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute," the organization said in a statement posted on X.

Another historian, Aaron Astor, also rebuffed accusations of Musk's Nazi emulation.

"I have criticized Elon Musk many times for letting neo-Nazis pollute this platform," he wrote on X, adding: "But this gesture is not a Nazi salute."

"This is a socially awkward autistic man's wave to the crowd where he says 'my heart goes out to you.'"

The obsession with twisting and branding this a nazi-salute, or Musk a nazi, is incredible. The Anti Defamation League find the whole assertion completely baseless.

Musk is great! He will take the first Americans to Mars.

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk gesture is nothing more than a misconstrued photo op,

From a man that has openly stated he suffers from a neurodevelopmental disorder Asperger syndrome.

Simply humour the fellow.

It looks like a moment of exuberance and adrenalin...dumb awkward and embarrassing: Yes, sure.

a fascist salute, I think less so.

Funny, I've never seen anyone, no matter how much exuberance they were experiencing or how high their adrenalin levels were, deliberately express that with a Nazi salute before, let alone two Nazi salutes.

Well, except for Nazis in old clips of Nazi rallies of course.

It looks like a moment of exuberance and adrenalin...dumb awkward and embarrassing: Yes, sure.

a fascist salute, I think less so.

Watch the video: He says "my heart goes out to you" and gestures twice in rapid motion, once to the rear for audience behind him. His hand is clearly splayed on his heart each time.

I just watched an unedited video of it. Its a very clear and deliberate Nazi salute, done twice as if to erase any doubt, by a guy who openly supports neo-Nazis.

Just own it, the denials in the face of what everyone can see in plain sight are just pathetic.

Given Musk's recent flirtations with fascist-adjacent groups and ideas, this seems to be more than just an awkward "stiff wave of the arm" to show gratitude.

Watch the video: He says "my heart goes out to you" and gestures twice in rapid motion, once to the rear for audience behind him. His hand is clearly splayed on his heart each time.

This is nothing but a smear job.

I wonder what would happen if Jared Kushner asked Trump to condemn that gesture. Kushner has been on record as saying that his father in law is not an anti-semite.

His grandkids are Jewish, proof right there.

Then we'd know where Trump's loyalties lie.

We do know since his son-in-law is Jewish.

Either he condemns it and risks losing his unofficial VP (and his money) or he declines, showing his son-in-law just what he really thinks of him.

I think the left is once again stepping way over their skies on this one.

Well, this really just brings things full-circle...

Trump's rallies have always been "Nazi-like" with their cult of devotion and outright hatred of "others"...

Now Elon the Autistic has blown away the pretense and given us a clear admission - it's 'Heil Donald" from now on...

Makes it a little easier to understand how Neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes got a MAL dinner invite...

And it puts that "very fine people" comment in much clearer context...

Welcome to MAGA-Nazi-world...

 It was just a stiff wave of the arm

lol

Jeeez, talk about being desperate to find offence under every grain of sand. It was just a stiff wave of the arm. Biden had the habit of making a stiff wave of acknowledgement like Stalin, but none of his opponents ever accused him of emulating that beast. In both Musk's and Biden's cases, it's merely a stiff wave.

More nonsense from the losers.

The American voters have spoken. Clear mandate for fascist salutes.

I wonder what would happen if Jared Kushner asked Trump to condemn that gesture. Kushner has been on record as saying that his father in law is not an anti-semite.

Then we'd know where Trump's loyalties lie. Either he condemns it and risks losing his unofficial VP (and his money) or he declines, showing his son-in-law just what he really thinks of him.

he's gone off the deep end.

his years-long biographer says he gone mad. he's unwell.

Following in the footsteps of Howard Hughes.

And the madness begins…

My wife and I were shaking our heads. He is Autistic to beat the band and it was never treated. We have a boy who is on the spectrum so we recognize the lack of self control or recognition of what is appropriate behavior.  The drug abuse is not helping things either.

In case people think it's just an accidental sieg heil salute:

He did it twice.

The video makes it much worse than still photo.

It no longer matters. Very little does these days. He knows exactly what the gesture represents. At the very least it was incredibly tactless. At the worst it was what people assume it was.

The lines have clearly been drawn. Musk could have said "I am happy that millions of Jews were gassed during World War Two" and his stans would either openly agree, or find a way to twist it.

It's open season on decency.

The salute is among the top five weirdest things about the photo. Number one surely is, why are there no preschoolers draped over his dome, and how many munchkins can he fit up there at one time?

Well considering the grub supports the AfD in Germany - of course he copies their signals and salutes.

Musk is so drug addled he is a major loose cannon for the administration.

Ah, a Nazi Salute at the Trump rally. Well, this is what people voted for.

At least the article mentions two sources that contradict this is a nazi salute, which it clearly wasn't - one being the ADL.

"My heart goes out to you"...

...is what he said, placing his hands firmly over his heart. He earlier gave little salutes of a military nature.

Not even one day in and the dreadful distortions are flowing.

"Musk raises eyebrows with salute gesture at Trump rally"

AND

"The Anti Defamation League (ADL), an organization founded to combat anti-Semitism which has criticized Musk in the past, defended his actions this time around.

"It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute," the organization said in a statement posted on X."

Case closed, and don't you have better things to do?

More nonsense from the losers.

“then made the same gesture of gratitude to those those behind the stage, saying, “Thank you! My heart goes out to you!”

You wanted it MAGA-world, you got it...

Fascism and Neo-Nazi-ism...

Proud of yourselves?

Man, day one and the new President's boss has already gone full Nazi.

This won't end well.

he's gone off the deep end.

his years-long biographer says he gone mad. he's unwell.

He did it ALL for YOU

"This is a socially awkward autistic man's wave to the crowd where he says 'my heart goes out to you.'"

There is a minimum of coherence necessary for an excuse to be believable.

Wow. Just wow.

Seeing Trump surrounded by the richest people in the world in Musk and Bezos et al. was sicking but not suprising.... but nobody could have expected this. It appeared to be very deliberate to me.

That salute looks frighteningly familiar.

Isn’t it illegal to do that in Germany?