Billionaire tech tycoon Elon Musk’s gesture The action drew widespread criticism during US President Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day speech, with comparisons to the Nazi salute.

Owner of X, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla appears Trump supporters rally Monday at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

“This is no ordinary victory. This is a fork in the road on the road to human civilization,” Musk said in his speech.

“This is really important. Thank you for making this happen! Thank you,” he said.

Musk then touched the left side of his chest with his right hand, stretched his arm upward, and repeated this action to the crowd behind him.

“My heart goes out to you. Thanks to you, the future of civilization is guaranteed,” he finished the gesture.

Many took to social media to condemn the act, saying it was reminiscent of the Nazi salute used by supporters of German dictator Adolf Hitler.

Musk lashed out at the criticism, writing on X, “The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attacks are so tiring.”

Here’s what we know about the salute, its history and why Musk’s gesture sparked controversy:

What’s the response to Musk’s tribute?

Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a professor of history and fascism at New York University, wrote in X that the gesture was “a Nazi salute — and a very militant one at that.”

But the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which tracks anti-Semitism, disagreed with the notion that Musk gave the Nazi salute, instead saying the tech mogul “made an embarrassing gesture in the heat of the moment.”

Aaron Astor, a history professor at Maryville College in Tennessee, supported the ADL’s position and said on the X that it was “not a Nazi salute.”

“This is a socially awkward autistic person’s way of waving to a crowd and saying ‘my heart goes out to you all’,” he added.

I have repeatedly criticized Elon Musk for allowing neo-Nazis to pollute the platform. But this gesture is not a Nazi salute. This is the way a socially awkward autistic person waves to a crowd and says “my heart goes out to you all.” https://t.co/QWWiYHEI65

— Aaron Astor (@AstorAaron) January 20, 2025

However, Musk’s actions appear to have galvanized neo-Nazi and white nationalist groups.

“Rolling Stone” magazine wrote that Christopher Pohlhaus, the leader of the neo-Nazi group “Bloodline”, posted a video of Musk making this gesture on Telegram with the text: “I don’t care if this It was a mistake. I will enjoy the tears shed over it.”

What is the history behind this gesture?

The Nazi salute, also known as the Heil Hitler salute, is an extended right arm with the palm facing down and was used as an official greeting in Nazi Germany.

But the gesture dates back to a form of salute used in ancient Rome.

This gesture was taken in 1925 by Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, who aimed to restore the country to the Roman Empire.

By 1926, members of the German Nazi Party began using the gesture, and its use was made mandatory within the party.

What is a Bellamy tribute?

In 1892, American Christian pastor Francis Bellamy wrote the American Pledge of Allegiance to promote the spirit of patriotism.

As the pledge quickly became popular, a magazine Bellamy worked for called Young Companion decided to create a tribute to go with the phrase.

Named the Bellamy Salute, it consists of a straight right arm tilted slightly upward and the palm facing downward.

This salute continued to be used throughout the United States without any controversy until World War II, when the United States joined the war against the Axis powers such as Germany and Italy.

Increasingly uneasy among Americans that the Bellamy salute could be misinterpreted as a pledge of allegiance to Hitler and Mussolini, Congress amended the Flag Act in December 1942 to change the salute to a right hand over the heart .

Where is the Nazi salute prohibited?

Shortly after World War II, Germany banned salutes and any display of Nazi emblems under penalty of three years in prison.

Shortly after the war, Austria also passed laws against Nazi parties and emblems.

In January 2024, Australia banned the Nazi salute, Nazi swastika and double lightning bolt insignia associated with the SS (SS) paramilitary organization under Hitler.

Nazi gestures can be considered hate speech in Canada, France and Switzerland.

In the United States, however, the salute is not banned because the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects free speech and provides significant protections for hate speech.

Does Musk support figures with Nazi ties?

Musk has been accused of being soft on anti-Semitism in the past.

In 2023, Musk published a post on X accusing Jews of hating white people, describing the statement as “the truth.”

The ADL slammed Musk’s posts, saying it was “deeply disturbing” that Musk had engaged in “highly toxic anti-Semitic activity” on his platform.

Musk later said that he and X opposed all forms of anti-Semitism.

However, in recent months, Musk has supported the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in February’s general election. In May, AfD leader Bjorn Hock was fined for saying “Everything for Germany!” A slogan used by Nazi paramilitary forces during a speech in 2021 is now banned in the country.

Musk also supports the UK’s far-right anti-immigration party Reform Party UK. Ahead of July’s UK general election, a Reform Britain candidate has been criticized after he claimed the country would be “much better off” if Britain accepted Hitler’s “neutrality offer” and stayed out of World War II .

Musk is also a close friend of Italy’s right-wing Prime Minister Giorgio Meloni, a former youth leader of the neo-fascist Italian social movement.