Elon Musk has defended the one-armed gesture he gave during President Trump’s inauguration — arguing the left-wingers who accused him of giving a Nazi salute “need better dirty tricks.”
The billionaire tech titan caused a stir on social media after he placed his right hand over his heart and then extended his arm into the air as he thanked Trump’s supporters on Monday ahead of the Inauguration Day parade.
“Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired,” Musk, 55, said in a post on X as he addressed the backlash.
The SpaceX founder also thanked the Anti-Defamation League after they publicly dismissed Musk’s motion as an “awkward gesture” and “not a Nazi salute.”
“Thanks guys,” he said on X alongside a crying laughing face emoji in response to the ADL’s statement.
It comes after the antisemitism watchdog were among those to address the Musk controversy soon after footage of his on-stage gesture started going viral.
“Thank you for making it happen. Thank you, my heart goes out to you,” the Tesla had bellowed to the crowd inside Capital One Arena before thumping his chest and extending his arm.
The ADL, in its statement, noted that Trump’s first day back in the White House was a “delicate moment” for some people — and that “many are on edge.”
“It seems that [Musk] made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute,” group wrote on X.
“Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety,” the ADL continued. “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,” they added.
