Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Elon Musk has been slammed online after his gesture at Trump’s inauguration was compared to a “Nazi salute.” However, some of his biggest fans rushed to his defense calling it a Roman salute and trying to downplay the connection to World War II Germany.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO dismissed the comparison to the Nazi and wrote on X that his critics “need better dirty tricks.”
“The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired,” he added.
During the 2024 campaign, Musk joined forces with President Donald Trump, helping him win by donating more than $250 million to the efforts to get Trump elected. Musk, who bought Twitter in 2022 for $44 billion and renamed it X, faced widespread backlash for seemingly mimicking a Nazi salute multiple times during his appearance in Capital One Arena in downtown Washington.
The salute, also known as the Roman salute, involves putting your arm forward with fingers together and your palm downwards. It’s alleged to have been used in ancient Rome, but there’s no Roman text that describes the salute. In the 1930s and 1940s, it became associated with the Nazi party in Germany.
The move became popularized in the 18th and 19th centuries in artworks and theatre performances, showing Romans saluting as a way of greeting each other, Newsweek noted.
The salute was used as a symbol in the Neoclassical art movement to display Roman virtues such as honor, patriotism and civic duty.
In the 20th century, it was put to use by fascists in Italy and the Nazi party in Germany. Both also used a number of other Roman and Neoclassical symbols.
The salute quickly became synonymous with the German Nazi party, with military staff and citizens being forced to do the salute and say “Heil Hitler” or “Sieg Heil.”
Following World War II, it has been widely seen as a salute used by fascists and for symbolizing white supremacy. Doing the movement is outlawed in Germany, Austria and Slovakia and it’s restricted in several other countries such as the U.K. and Canada.
Musk sparked controversy when he used the salute on Monday during Trump’s indoor parade and rally.
“I just want to say thank you for making it happen, thank you,” he said before putting his hand to his chest and extending his arm up towards the crowd, his fingers outstretched and his palm down.
“My heart goes out to you. It’s because of you that the future of civilization is assured,” he said after having done the salute.
The Anti-Defamation League wrote on X in part that “It seems that @elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge.”
“Thanks guys,” Musk wrote in response along with a laughing emoji.
Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slammed the ADL’s response, writing, “Just to be clear, you are defending a Heil Hitler salute that was performed and repeated for emphasis and clarity. People can officially stop listening to you as any sort of reputable source of information now. You work for them. Thank you for making that crystal clear to all.”
Read More: Elon Musk’s gesture has drawn comparisons to roman salutes. But, what exactly is one?
