PM Netanyahu praises Musk’s support for Israel amid gesture scandal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed his support for Elon Musk after the Tesla CEO faced accusations of performing a Nazi salute at an event marking the inauguration of US President Donald Trump.

The controversy surrounding Musk arose following reports on social media and in the media suggesting that he had raised his hand in what appeared to be a Nazi gesture during the event, Caliber.Az reports.

Netanyahu, in a post on his official social media account, defended Musk, rejecting the allegations.

.@elonmusk is being falsely smeared.

Elon is a great friend of Israel. He visited Israel after the October 7 massacre in which Hamas terrorists committed the worst atrocity against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. He has since repeatedly and forcefully supported Israel’s… https://t.co/VkBptanDmp

— Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) January 23, 2025

“Elon is a great friend of Israel.  He visited Israel after the October 7 massacre in which Hamas terrorists committed the worst atrocity against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. He has since repeatedly and forcefully supported Israel’s right to defend itself against genocidal terrorists and regimes who seek to annihilate the one and only Jewish state. I thank him for this,” the Israeli PM posted.

The Prime Minister's statement came after significant backlash online, with critics pointing to the gesture as a possible reference to the infamous Nazi salute.

Elon Musk has broken his silence after the serious accusations that he made a "Nazi salute" during his speech at Donald Trump's inauguration rally.

The tech tycoon sparked intense outrage among the nation after some believed he made a stiff-armed Roman-style salute in front of Trump's supporters - with the billionaire seemingly making an intentional movement with his hand not once, but twice.

Responding to the onslaught, Musk took to his social media platform X writing: "Frankly, they need better dirty tricks.

By Vafa Guliyeva