A Gesture by billionaire Elon Musk following Donald Trump’s second inauguration has sparked a hot debate online. While speaking at a rally on Monday, Musk put his palm on his chest before stretching his right arm outwards. The move, many say, was a classic Roman salute. It was repeated later, fueling speculations over the gesture.
Critics and commentators were quick to draw far-right ideologies as connections, with extremist groups on platforms like Telegram celebrating the moment. The neo-Nazi leader of the Blood Tribe, Christopher Pohlhaus, shared the clip, with Nazi symbolism. Other leading figures in far-right movements hailed the gesture as a nod to their movements. Some described it as a “Donald Trump White Power moment.”
Though Musk hasn’t commented on the controversy directly, some supporters claimed that it was a clumsy attempt to reach out to the crowd. When talking during the rally, Musk was misquoted saying “My heart goes out to you.” However, he has always been surrounded by controversies in social media, where he has engaged with far-right memes and individuals.
This is a time when Musk is that strong in U.S. politics, recently appointed to lead Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, and his role in shaping the agenda of this administration so widely popular that such spectacular events have become inevitable.
Comedian Jon Stewart weighed in on the controversy on The Daily Show, where he first jokingly referred to the gesture as Musk “dabbing on the haters” before stating his issues with it. Stewart’s commentary pointed to a broader unease with the rising influence of tech billionaires in politics.
This debate represents something more important concerning the relationship between politics, social media, and extremist narratives when discussions go beyond. Intended or not, Musk’s gesture evoked very strong discussions around questions of responsibility and the symbolism of public life.
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