Elon Musk’s actions during a public appearance have ignited a storm of criticism, with Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister announcing her decision to leave the social media platform X after a gesture Musk made was compared to a Nazi salute.
The incident unfolded during a rally following Donald Trump’s inauguration. Musk, addressing the crowd, placed his hand on his chest before extending a rigid right arm forward—a motion that quickly drew comparisons to the infamous salute associated with Nazi Germany. “I just want to thank you for making this happen,” Musk said to the audience, repeating the gesture, which triggered both outrage and debate online.
Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister and Labour Minister, Yolanda Díaz, was quick to respond, stating she would deactivate her X account in protest. “Elon Musk has turned this platform into a tool for political propaganda,” Díaz remarked, calling the gesture “alarming” and accusing X of manipulating algorithms to push specific ideologies. Following her lead, Spain’s Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun also left the platform.
The backlash extended beyond Spain. In Germany, where Musk’s ties to far-right politics have already raised eyebrows, his actions were met with sharp criticism. German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach condemned the gesture, linking it to Musk’s visible support of the far-right AfD party and his decision to host an interview with the party’s co-leader, Alice Weidel. “This kind of gesture, combined with his known affiliations, should concern everyone who values democracy,” Lauterbach said.
However, not everyone agrees on whether Musk’s motion should be classified as a Nazi salute. Historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat, an expert on fascism, labeled it as such, describing the act as “belligerent.” Meanwhile, Israeli activist Shai Davidai pointed out the deeper issue, stating, “The problem isn’t just the act itself—it’s about normalizing something that should never be normalized.”
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), while acknowledging the gesture bore an unfortunate resemblance to the Nazi salute, stopped short of outright condemnation. Calling it “an awkward moment of enthusiasm,” the ADL urged for caution and understanding, stating, “This is a tense time, and everyone should take a moment to pause before jumping to conclusions.”
Yet, Musk’s actions have already been co-opted by extremist groups. Leaders of neo-Nazi organizations and far-right platforms embraced the gesture, whether accidental or not. The leader of Blood Tribe, a prominent neo-Nazi group, reposted the video with a caption mocking critics: “I don’t care if it was unintentional—I’ll enjoy the outrage.” Similarly, Andrew Torba, founder of the far-right platform Gab, celebrated the moment as a victory for his movement.
Musk, for his part, responded to the backlash by retweeting a post calling for an end to “labeling people as Nazis” and adding his agreement with, “Yeah, exactly.”