In response to claims that Elon Musk had a made a Nazi salute, social media users flooded X (formerly known as Twitter) with images of various celebrities including Taylor Swift, fictional characters like Superman and Spock, and Democrats like AOC, Obama and Clinton, giving the Nazi salute.
The Gesture That Ignited the Debate
While celebrating Donald Trump’s political victory and discussing future space exploration, Musk made a sweeping motion accompanied by the phrase, “My heart goes out to you.” To his supporters, this was a heartfelt expression of gratitude. However, critics argued that the motion resembled the notorious “Heil Hitler” salute, fuelling widespread backlash online.
One user on X (formerly Twitter) commented, “Elon just did a full Nazi salute, can’t help himself.” Another wrote, “I used to overlook Musk’s antics for the sake of space exploration, but this I can no longer ignore.”
Supporters of Musk were quick to refute these claims, with many dismissing them as unfounded. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro voiced his frustration, tweeting, “You stupid f***ing idiots,” encapsulating the indignation felt by many of Musk’s defenders.
A Politically Charged Setting
The speech took place against a politically charged backdrop, celebrating Trump’s recent electoral triumph and Musk’s vision for humanity’s future on Mars. “The future of civilisation is assured,” Musk declared to cheers from the audience. “Can you imagine how incredible it will be when American astronauts plant our flag on another planet?”
Despite the focus on ambitious space exploration, the controversy surrounding Musk’s gesture stole the spotlight. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) weighed in, criticising those defending Musk. She tweeted, “Just to be clear, you are defending a Heil Hitler salute that was performed and repeated for emphasis. People can officially stop listening to you as any reputable source of information.”
Online Backlash and Defence
While critics accused Musk of promoting far-right ideologies, his defenders dismissed the claims as an orchestrated smear campaign. Conservative commentator Avi Yemini sarcastically remarked, “Notice how every real Jew-hater on this platform is pretending that Elon Musk gave a Nazi salute.”
Others highlighted the broader context, suggesting that the outrage was a distraction. One user tweeted, “They are upset because both JD Vance and Trump emphasised that there is no place for antisemitism in the MAGA movement. Now they are trying to harm the MAGA movement with false claims.”
“Worst Nazi Ever”
Amidst the heated debate, some users opted for humour to address the situation. Chaya Raichik quipped, “Worst Nazi ever,” downplaying the accusations and underscoring the perceived absurdity of the claims.
As the debate rages on, it remains a polarising issue, with supporters and critics offering vastly differing interpretations of the controversial moment.
