Muhamad Yehia
Tech billionaire Elon Musk has sparked widespread speculation after he made two swift gestures at Trump’s inauguration rally which have been likened to a ‘Nazi’ salute.
Musk, who will head Trump’s newly-created department of government efficiency, greeted supporters by thumping his chest before emphatically extending his right arm forward, palm facing down. The gesture was repeated twice.
While many have slammed Musk’s move as a hostile evocation of 20th century fascism, others have dismissed it as a spontaneous act of emotion that carries no real political significance.
Euronews spoke to two renowned historians who dismissed the notion Musk was intentionally emulating the ‘Nazi’ salute
We break down what we know about the history of the salute, and its relevance in modern-day politics.
?What are the so-called Roman and Nazi salutes
What is sometimes referred to as a Roman salute is a gesture adopted by 20th-century fascists. In this salute, the right arm is extended upwards, with the palm facing down and fingers joined together.
It was used as a greeting by the fascist regime of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, imposing its use with a 1925 royal decree. There is no substantive evidence to support Mussolini and his entourage’s claims that the greeting originates from ancient Rome.
Historians agree the salute was invented in the 19th century and used in films and plays, and that its association with ancient Roman culture is inaccurate.
A similar salute was later adopted by Nazi Germany as a sign of allegiance to Adolf Hitler.
The US Pledge of Allegiance, where Americans swear loyalty to their flag, was originally accompanied by the “Bellamy salute,” which bore an uncanny resemblance to what later became associated with fascism.
The Bellamy salute was scrapped by the US Congress in 1942 and replaced with the hand-over-heart gesture amid fears it could be mistaken for the fascist salute.
?How is it being used today
Today, the salute remains one of the most recognisable symbols of Nazi ideology and its use is illegal in a raft of European countries including Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
It has also been adopted by modern-day neo-fascist groups.
In January last year, a video emerged showing hundreds of neo-fascist militants performing the salute during a rally marking the deaths of three far-right activists.
Italy’s top court then ruled the salute was not a crime unless it endangered public order or risked reviving fascist parties.
?How do historians and online hate experts read Musk’s gesture
Historian Richard Evans told Euronews that Musk’s gesture cannot be interpreted as a Nazi gesture as his gaze follows his hand rather than looking straight ahead.
He also pointed out that Trump “is not a fascist” as he doesn’t share the fascist desire to “militarise society” and take over countries “beyond their backyard.”
“However, having said that, the danger to democracy is obvious. And it’s the danger to truth, justice and fairness,” Evans added.
Speaking to Euronews, Roger Griffin, Emeritus professor in modern history and expert in fascist studies, described Musk’s actions as “a grey area between a deliberately glorifying gesture and a spontaneous gesture.”
“It is a masculine display of celebration with ideological underpinnings,” Griffin added. “It does not make Musk a political fascist, but nevertheless shows how he subscribes to the megalomaniac ideologies of Trump.”
Griffin explained that neither Musk nor Trump can be associated with fascism despite several aspects of their politics and governance “ticking the boxes” of fascist ideology, such as xenophobia and a readiness to flout the rule of law.
“It is misconceived to see either Trump or Musk as fascists because fascism is an elaborated political ideology aimed at creating a new world order. Yet, they are both turbocharging the real threat to democracy, which is the de-liberalisation and dehumanisation of democracy,” he explained.
Jared Hold, a senior researcher at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, told AP that he was “sceptical” Musk had acted on purpose as such an act of “self-sabotage wouldn’t really make much sense at all.”
Others believe Musk asked intentionally. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a history professor at New York University, wrote that “it was a Nazi salute and a very belligerent one too.”
The dismissal of the gesture by Musk’s allies and other groups, including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a non-profit founded with the aim of combating anti-Semitism, have also been met with incredulity.
Democrat representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez replied to a post in which ADL dismisses Musk’s gestures, accusing the organisation of “defending a Heil Hitler salute that was performed and repeated for emphasis and clarity.”
?Could it fuel neo-fascist groups
Whether intentional or not, Musk’s gesture has invigorated neo-Nazi groups world wide.
White supremacist group White Lives Matter reacted on Telegram with the message: “Thanks for (sometimes) hearing us, Elon. The White Flame will rise again.”
The leader of the American neo-Nazi group Blood Tribe said: “I don’t care if this was a mistake. I’m going to enjoy the tears over it.”
“Incredible things are happening already,” Andrew Torba, the founder of Gab, a social media known for its far-right, white supremacist user base, wrote over a picture Musk’s salute.
Evan Kilgore, a Holocaust denier and right-wing commentator, wrote on X: “Did Elon Musk just Heil Hitler… We are so back.”
Kilgore has worked for a conservative activist group called Turning Point USA which hosted a pre-inauguration ball on Sunday attended by both Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr, and Vice President JD Vance.
Professor Roger Griffin told Euronews that while Trump’s vision of an “illiberal democracy” should not be mistaken for fascism, there are clear signs he and his entourage is normalising right-wing radicalisation.
On Wednesday, President Trump defended his decision to pardon those convicted of assaulting police officers during the January 2021 Capitol attacks and refused to discard giving extremist groups such as Proud Boys and Oath Keepers a place in US politics.
Members of both far-right militia groups were among the rioters imprisoned for their role in the attacks and were among those released this week after Trump signed an executive order granting their clemency.