In a speech at President Donald Trump’s inaugural rally, Musk raised his right arm in the air twice in a row in a gesture some compared to a Nazi salute.

Musk, the world's richest man and a close ally of President Trump, was speaking at the Capital One Arena in Washington DC when he made the gesture. "My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilisation is assured," the 53-year-old said, after giving the second one-armed salute.

Billionaire Elon Musk's hand gesture while he spoke during a celebration of U.S. President Donald Trump's inauguration drew online comparisons to a Nazi salute on Monday, but a leading tracker of antisemitism said it appeared to represent a moment of enthusiasm instead.

Elon Musk sparked controversy with a hand gesture that resembled a Nazi salute during his speech at President Donald Trump’s inaugural rally on Jan. 20.

Billionaire Elon Musk speaks to a crowd of Trump supporters at a victory rally in Washington D.C. at Jan. 19, 2025.

Elon Musk, who is routinely praised by Donald Trump, has growing influence in Washington as he pledges to cut the annual federal budget as part of his role in the Department of Government Efficiency.