Both sides of the political spectrum have differing opinions on the gesture made by Elon Musk, hear what they are on Bias Breakdown.

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Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

Politics

Musk accused of ‘Nazi salute’ at Trump inaugural rally: Bias Breakdown

Jan 21

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Karah Rucker Anchor/Reporter

By Karah Rucker (Anchor/Reporter), Ian Kennedy (Lead Video Editor), Ali Caldwell (Motion Graphics Designer)

In the hours following President Donald Trump’s inauguration, a rally in Washington, D.C., featuring Elon Musk has sparked reactions across the political spectrum. The Tesla CEO, an outspoken supporter of Trump, delivered an enthused speech, at one point making an arm gesture that has drawn different interpretations, fueling division among left-leaning and right-leaning media outlets.

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Details behind Musk’s rally gesture

Musk, energized and passionate, took to the stage to a cheering crowd, fist-pumping and shouting into the microphone: “Yes! This is what victory feels like! Yeah!”

He went on to express his excitement about Trump’s victory, including sharing his vision of astronauts planting U.S. flags on Mars.

Musk mimed the motion of planting a flag twice on stage, with a loud grunt of enthusiasm.

pic.twitter.com/hH6i7xYy60
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 20, 2025

However, it was a later moment in his speech that caused controversy.

Musk thanked Trump supporters and expressed his heartfelt gratitude, saying, “My heart goes out to you,” as he hit his chest and raised his arm twice, directing the gesture to the crowd.

The movement has led some on the Left to speculate that Musk made a Nazi-style salute.

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Divergent Media Reactions from Left and Right

The interpretation of Musk’s gesture has sharply divided the media along political lines. Left-leaning outlets have focused on the resemblance to fascist and Nazi symbolism.

New Republic: “Did Elon Musk Seriously Just Do a Nazi Salute at Trump’s Inauguration?”

The Guardian: “Elon Musk appears to make back-to-back fascist salutes at inauguration rally.”

CNN anchors discussed the gesture live, saying, “that salute was evocative of things that we have seen throughout history” and even mentioning Musk’s growing political presence in Europe, particularly in far-right circles in Germany.

Right-leaning outlets have strongly rejected these accusations by focusing their coverage on criticizing the media’s interpretation of Musk’s gesture.

Fox News: “Media outlets accuse Elon Musk of giving ‘fascist salute’ at Trump inauguration rally.”

The National Review: “CNN Anchors Imply Elon Musk Gave Nazi Salute at Trump Inaugural Rally.”

PBS News also weighed in, posting on X that Musk’s gesture “appeared to be a fascist salute,” a post that was later picked up by politicians to express their sentiment over the gesture.

Political backlash and support

Democratic politicians like Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., condemned Musk’s gesture as “antisemitism” in a post on X. Nadler called it a “Heil Hitler” salute and called it “abhorrent.”

Meanwhile, Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene decried the media’s characterization of the gesture, suggesting PBS funding could get cut over “lying and spreading propaganda to serve the Democrat party.”

Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., defended Musk on Capitol Hill during questioning from a democratic colleague at her confirmation hearing on Tuesday, Jan. 21. Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy asked Stefanik about her thoughts “of Elon Musk doing two heil Hitler salutes at the televised rally.”

“No, Elon Musk did not do those salutes,” Stefanik responded. “The American people are smart. They see through it and they support Elon Musk.”

An unlikely ally for Musk came from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which defended Musk’s actions. Despite Musk’s previous disagreements with the ADL over speech regulation on X. The ADL posted a statement calling the gesture “awkward” but not a Nazi salute, urging people to extend grace in such a politically charged environment.

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 @elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on…
— ADL (@ADL) January 20, 2025

Musk himself reacted to the ADL’s defense, thanking them with a laughing emoji, and reposting comments from users labeling the controversy a “salute hoax.”

Musk condemned the Left over the interpretation, saying “The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is so tired” on X.

Bias Breakdown conclusion: A divisive debate

As President Trump begins his second term, the controversy surrounding Musk’s speech highlights the intense polarization in U.S. politics and media.

Left-leaning media outlets have zeroed in on Musk’s gesture, interpreting it as a troubling symbol of fascist tendencies.

Meanwhile, conservative voices have rejected these claims, accusing the media of playing into a political agenda.

The debate underscores how a single event can be spun in vastly different directions depending on one’s political leanings.

What some see as an innocent gesture of excitement, others interpret as a deeply problematic symbol. Both political sides are entrenched in their respective narratives, as seen in the media’s reporting.

As we examine this story, it’s clear how the lens through which we view events can shape our understanding. Left-wing outlets have highlighted the potential dangers of fascist symbolism, while right-wing media have pushed back, framing it as an example of media overreach.

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Tags: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, America First, Anti-Defamation League, Donald Trump, Elise Stefanik, Elon Musk, inauguration, Jerry Nadler, Marjorie Taylor Greene

[Karah Rucker]

WELCOME TO BIAS BREAKDOWN –

I’M YOUR HOST KARAH RUCKER.

TODAY’S DISCUSSION –

DID ELON MUSK GIVE “A NAZI SALUTE” AT A RALLY AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS INAUGURATED?

HOW THE STORY IS BEING TOLD BY LEFT AND RIGHT NEWS OUTLETS.

THAT’S THE STORY OF TODAY’S BIAS BREAKDOWN.

ELON MUSK TOOK TO THE STAGE AT A CELEBRATORY RALLY IN WASHINGTON HOURS AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS SWORN IN.

MUSK – CAME OUT ENERGIZED AND FIST PUMPING AS AN AVID SUPPORTER FOR THE NOW-47TH PRESIDENT.

MUSK EVEN HOLLERING INTO THE MICROPHONE IN EXCITEMENT – AS HE BEGAN HIS SPEECH.

“Yeees! This is what victory feels like! yeah!”

IF YOU’RE LISTENING TO THIS WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SEE THE VIDEO –

MUSK – IS CLEARLY PASSIONATE ON STAGE SURROUNDED BY SUPPORTERS.

HE GOES ON TO SAY HOW IMPORTANT THIS ELECTION WAS.

AND AGAIN BECOMES ANIMATED WHEN EXPRESSING HIS SHARED VISION WITH TRUMP OF ASTRONAUTS PLANTING U.S. FLAGS ON MARS.

WE’RE SHOWING THE VIDEO NOW OF MUSK ACTING OUT THE MOTION OF STAKING FLAGS INTO MARS NOT ONCE BUT TWICE – WITH A GRUNT AND ANOTHER YELL OF EXCITEMENT.

THAT TEES US UP FOR WHAT COMES NEXT –

THE PART OF MUSK’S SPEECH THAT HAS LED TO SOME ONLINE CONTROVERSY AND REACTION.

TAKE A LISTEN.

“I just want to say thank you for making it happen, thank you. My heart goes out to you.”

SO MUSK – WHILE THANKING PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR TRUMP –

HITS HIS CHEST AND SLINGS HIS ARM IN THE AIR TWICE – TO THE CROWD IN FRONT AND THE PEOPLE BEHIND HIM – THEN GRABS HIS HEART AGAIN AS HE SAYS HIS HEART GOES OUT TO THE PEOPLE.

NOW THAT YOU’VE GOT THE CONTEXT BEHIND THE CLIP –

LET’S SEE HOW THIS IS BEING REPORTED ON BY MEDIA WITH A LEFT AND RIGHT POLITICAL BIAS.

NEWS OUTLETS WITH A LEFT POLITICAL BIAS LEANED INTO REPORTING MUSK’S GESTURE LOOKED LIKE A “NAZI” AND “FASCIST” SALUTE.

LIKE NEW REPUBLIC’S HEADLINE: “Did Elon Musk Seriously Just Do a Nazi Salute at Trump’s Inauguration?

AND THE GUARDIAN’S HEADLINE: “Elon Musk appears to make back-to-back fascist salutes”

IN CONTRAST – NEWS OUTLETS ON THE RIGHT – ARE CALLING OUT LEFT-LEANING OUTLETS FOR MAKING THE ACCUSATIONS.

FOX NEWS: Media outlets accuse Elon Musk of giving ‘fascist salute’

THE NATIONAL REVIEW: CNN Anchors Imply Elon Musk Gave Nazi Salute

A THEME IN COVERAGE? LEFT-LEANING OUTLETS SPOTLIGHTING THE SPECULATION OVER MUSK’S INTENTIONS.

AND RIGHT-LEANING OUTLETS CALLING THEIR MEDIA COVERAGE A CONTINUED NARRATIVE of comparing gop practices to fascism.

HERE’S CNN ANCHORS DISCUSSING THE GESTURE ON AIR AT THE EVENT LIVE –

SAYING ITS “EVOCATIVE OF THINGS WE’VE SEEN THROUGHOUT HISTORY” –

AND THEN MAKING MENTION OF MUSK’S INTEREST IN WHAT THE ANCHOR DESCRIBES AS “FAR RIGHT” POLITICS IN GERMANY.

“Yes, that salute was evocative of things that we have seen throughout history and of course we do want to bring it up to be able to take a little bit of a closer look. I THINK its worth noting elon musk has starting playing in politics across europe as well including a far-right party in germany.”

IN RESPONSE TO CNN’S COVERAGE – RIGHT-LEANING NATIONAL REVIEW WROTE –

“The inauguration day comments represent a return to form for the CNN hosts as media commentators repeatedly likened Trump to a fascist dictator during his first term and throughout the most recent campaign.”

SIMILARLY – LEFT-LEANING PBS NEWS – REPORTED ON MUSK’S GESTURE APPEARING TO BE “A FASCIST SALUTE” IN THIS POST ON X. (highlight appeared to be fascist salute)

FOX NEWS CALLING OUT PBS IN THEIR REPORT SAYING – “PBS News Hour fired out a post on X that said the Tesla CEO “gave what appeared to be a fascist salute.”

THE POLITICAL TAKE BY THESE NEWS OUTLETS MIRRORS THE SENTIMENT OF PARTY POLITICIANS.

NEW YORK DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN JERRY NADLER SHARED PBS’ POST.

WRITING A CAPTION THAT READ “I never imagined we would see the day when what appears to be a Heil Hitler salute would be made behind the Presidential seal. This abhorrent gesture has no place in our society and belongs in the darkest chapters of human history. I urge all of my colleagues to unite in condemning this hateful gesture for what it is: antisemitism.”

IT’S A DIFFERENT TUNE COMPARED TO GEORGIA REPUBLICAN CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE – WHO SHARED PBS’ POST WITH THIS CAPTION.

“As the Chairwoman of the Oversight Subcommittee on DOGE, I look forward to PBS @NewsHour coming before my committee and explaining why lying and spreading propaganda to serve the Democrat party and attack Republicans is a good use of taxpayer funds.

AND YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE –

THE POLITICIZATION OF MUSK’S EXPRESSIVE SPEECH –

MADE IT TO THE FLOOR OF REPUBLICAN CONGRESSWOMAN ELISE STEFANIK’S CONFIRMATION HEARING – QUESTIONED BY DEMOCRATIC SENATOR CHRIS MURPHY OVER THE CONTROVERSY.

TAKE A LISTEN.

“What do you think of elon musk doing two heil Hitler salutes last night at the televised rally?

No, elon musk did not do those salutes…who loves to cheer.”

That is simply not the case, and to say so, the american people are smart, they see through it, they support elon musk.”

MUSK ALSO HAD AN UNLIKELY ALLY COME TO HIS DEFENSE.

“THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE.”

This is a group Musk has previously clashed with, particularly over their calls for MORE regulation of speech on X—an issue Musk has strongly opposed in his advocacy for free speech.

THE ADL POSTED –

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 @elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge.

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.

PROGRESSIVE CONGRESSWOMAN ALEXANDRIA OCASSIO CORTEZ CONDEMNED THE ADL SAYING – “Just to be clear, you are defending a Heil Hitler salute that was performed and repeated for emphasis and clarity.”

MUSK RESPONDED TO THE ADL’S POST – SAYING “THANKS GUYS” WITH A LAUGHING EMOJI.

AND REPOSTED OTHER USERS’ COMMENTS CALLING IT “THE SALUTE HOAX.”

IN SUMMARY –

AS PRESIDENT TRUMP BEGINS HIS SECOND TERM –

CONTROVERSY SWARMS ONE OF HIS CLOSEST ALLIES.

POLITICIANS AND MEDIA ON THE LEFT ARE QUESTIONING OR CALLING OUT WHAT THEY BELIEVE MUSK’S INTENTIONS WERE BEHIND THE GESTURE.

WHILE POLITICIANS AND MEDIA ON THE RIGHT ARE DISMISSING THOSE REPORTS AND ACCUSATIONS.

THE SAME STORY –

BUT TWO DIFFERENT ANGLES – DEPENDING ON THE POLITICAL BIAS.

AND THAT’S YOUR BIAS BREAKDOWN.

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