Elon Musk sparked widespread controversy after making a one-armed gesture during a speech at Donald Trump’s inauguration celebration in Washington, D.C.

The billionaire entrepreneur placed his right hand over his heart before extending the same arm straight ahead, repeating the action for the audience behind him. While Musk thanked the crowd for their support, many on X, the social media platform he owns, compared the gesture to a Nazi salute, reports BBC.

In response to the backlash, Musk dismissed the accusations, posting on X: "Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The 'everyone is Hitler' attack is sooo tired."

Historians and social media users were divided over the gesture. Claire Aubin, a historian specializing in Nazism in the U.S., described it as a "sieg heil," while New York University historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat labeled it a "belligerent Nazi salute." Italian media reported that Andrea Stroppa, a Musk confidant, initially shared the clip with the caption "Roman Empire is back starting from Roman salute" but later deleted the post. Stroppa later clarified that Musk’s gesture was a personal expression of gratitude, unrelated to extremist symbolism.

Read: Trump signs order making Musk’s DOGE Commission official

Musk, who has publicly aligned himself with Trump and taken increasingly right-wing political stances, has faced growing scrutiny for his associations and statements. Critics noted his recent support for Germany’s far-right AfD party and the UK’s Reform Party.

Defenders, including the Anti-Defamation League, dismissed the gesture as an "awkward moment of enthusiasm," emphasizing Musk’s non-affiliation with extremism. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz commented on the controversy at the World Economic Forum, stating, "We value free speech but do not tolerate support for extreme-right positions."

As Musk continues to navigate his evolving political alliances, the incident highlights the polarizing nature of his public actions and statements.

Source: With input from agency