Musk causes stir with 'Nazi' salute at inauguration

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has caused controversy at the inauguration of US President Donald Trump with a gesture that appeared similar to a Nazi salute.

Musk, one of Trump's closest advisers, was among the speakers on stage before Trump's arrival at the Capital One Arena in Washington on Monday.

"This was no ordinary victory. This was a fork in the road of human civilisation," he said.

"This one really mattered. Thank you for making it happen! Thank you," he said.

Biting his bottom lip, he thumped his right hand over his heart, fingers spread wide, then extended his right arm out, emphatically, at an upward angle, palm down and fingers together. Then he turned and made the same hand gesture to the crowd behind him.

"My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilisation is assured," he said as he finished the gesture.

The gestures were quickly scrutinised online.

"Did Elon Musk Sieg Heil at Trump's inauguration?" asked the Jerusalem Post.

The Anti-Defamation League, which tracks anti-Semitism disagreed.

"It seems that @elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge," it posted.

US broadcaster CNN replayed the footage multiple times during its program, with a presenter stating viewers were smart enough to form their own opinion on the matter.

Initially, Musk did not provide an explanation for the action.

Soon after his speech, Musk posted a Fox video clip of portions of his speech on his social media network X, that cut away from the podium when he made the first gesture while facing the cameras.

"The future is so exciting," he wrote above it.

Ahead of Trump's swearing-in, Musk enthused about the "Return of the King", sharing a screenshot of Trump's once-banned Twitter account alongside the official presidential profile.

Twitter banned Trump after the January 6, 2021 riots, before Musk reinstated the account when he bought the social media platform in 2022.

with reuters