The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) issued a statement on Monday seemingly defending Elon Musk after the tech entrepreneur made a gesture during an event at the One Capital Arena in
Washington, which some social media users characterized as resembling a fascist salute.
During the event, Musk placed his right hand over his heart before extending his arm outward—a gesture he said was meant to express gratitude to supporters of President Trump ahead of the Inauguration Day parade. “Thank you for making it happen. My heart goes out to you,” said Musk, the founder of SpaceX and Tesla, who recently assumed leadership of the newly established Department of Government Efficiency under the Trump administration.
In a post on X, the ADL—a leading organization dedicated to combating antisemitism—offered a nuanced perspective on the incident:
“This is a delicate moment. It’s a new day, and yet so many are on edge. Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety. It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute. However, we understand that tensions are high. In this moment, all sides should give one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath. This is a new beginning. Let’s hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years ahead.”
Musk responded to the criticism on X, dismissing accusations and suggesting his detractors were grasping at straws. “The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired,” Musk wrote, adding a sleepy face emoji for emphasis. He also remarked that his critics needed to come up with “better dirty tricks.” Photo by Starfish, Wikimedia commons.
