Kenya, Feb. 5 -- Elon Musk is back in the spotlight because of a video that became very popular. The video shows him making a hand gesture during Donald Trump's 2025 inauguration event.
People are arguing online and in political discussions about whether Musk's gesture looked like a Nazi salute or if it was just a friendly wave.
This happened at Capital One Arena in Washington, DC, where Trump supporters were celebrating. Musk, while speaking to the crowd, put his hand on his chest and then raised his arm up with his palm facing down, repeating the gesture.
Some critics compared it to the "Sieg Heil" salute, which is a gesture that was used in Nazi Germany. This made many people upset on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Reddit.
Some people, like NYU history professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat, called it a "belligerent" Nazi salute, while others, such as the Anti-Defamation League, said it was just an "awkward gesture" made in a moment of excitement.
Musk responded to the accusations by saying on X that the controversy was politically driven. He wrote, "Honestly, they need better dirty tricks. The 'everyone is Hitler' attack is old now."
Some defenders, including groups representing Jewish people, said the gesture was misunderstood and pointed out Musk's past action of visiting a Nazi concentration camp to honour the victims.
However, some far-right and neo-Nazi groups praised the gesture, which made the debate even more intense.
Politicians have also reacted to this. Democratic leaders, like Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, criticised Musk, pointing out that Neo-Nazi groups were happy about the gesture. Meanwhile, Republican Senator Ted Cruz backed Musk, saying that context matters.
The discussion about Musk has also reached other countries, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz hinting at Musk's support for far-right groups in Europe.
This incident is just one of many where Musk has created controversy. His support for Trump and far-right ideas has led to a backlash, like a viral TikTok video made by a local official who copied the gesture, and fewer Tesla sales in the Netherlands due to "Tesla shame.".
As Musk remains an important figure, arguments about his actions continue to be a hot topic, showing big political and cultural divides.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.