Elon Musk's controversial gesture sparks outrage across Europe

Elon Musk faced strong backlash across Europe after he appeared to make a gesture resembling the Nazi salute, widely condemned for its potential ties to far-right groups, particularly in Germany.

Michel Friedman, a German-French publicist and Holocaust descendant, expressed his shock, calling Musk’s actions a “disgrace” and warning that it signified a dangerous trend for the free world. He described the gesture as a “Heil Hitler” salute, criticizing the normalization of such taboo-breaking actions that he linked to the horrors of the Holocaust, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Charlotte Knobloch, president of the Jewish community in Munich, found Musk’s gesture deeply concerning but emphasized that his more troubling actions were his political endorsements. Knobloch pointed to Musk’s support for the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, noting that this political interference posed a greater risk than the controversial gesture.

Musk made the gesture at a public event after Donald Trump's inauguration, thanking Trump’s supporters before raising his arm in a sharp, upward motion, repeating it as he turned. In response to criticism, Musk downplayed the incident, dismissing the accusations as tired tactics and ridiculing the idea that it was a Hitler salute.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned Musk’s endorsement of extreme-right positions, stating that while freedom of speech is fundamental, supporting far-right ideologies is unacceptable. Scholz emphasized that such behavior would not be tolerated in Europe. Musk reacted sarcastically to Scholz's remarks on social media, using a derogatory nickname.

A German judge, Kai-Uwe Herbst, stated that the gesture could be seen as a violation of German law if intent to provoke could be proven. Legal experts pointed out that context would be key in determining whether the salute was intended as a neo-Nazi symbol or an awkward political gesture. The Anti-Defamation League refrained from calling it a Nazi salute, suggesting instead that Musk’s actions were driven by enthusiasm.

While some critics insisted the gesture was a deliberate salute, others, like journalist Miriam Hollstein, dismissed the incident as a distraction from more substantial criticisms of Musk. Friedman called on Musk to take political responsibility for his actions, highlighting the seriousness of gestures tied to a painful history for many, particularly those with personal ties to the Holocaust.

By Vugar Khalilov