In a striking turn of events this Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rose staunchly to the defense of tech mogul Elon Musk, amidst allegations from far-left Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and others, who unfavorably likened Musk’s gestures to those of a Nazi. This controversy stems from a somewhat misunderstood moment during the celebratory events of President Donald Trump’s inauguration earlier this week.
Elon Musk’s gesture came towards the end of his speech at Capitol One Arena, where he addressed the assembled crowd with heartfelt gratitude, stating, “Thank you. My heart goes out to you.” However, this seemingly benign remark ignited significant backlash as critics seized upon the visual of his hand movement.
DO NOT BELIEVE THE MEDIA
The media is misleading you. Elon Musk never did a Nazi salute. Watch the full video: He simply gestured and said, “Thank you, my heart goes out to you.” pic.twitter.com/e3vBaLoVqx
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) January 20, 2025
In an Instagram livestream, Ocasio-Cortez did not mince her words, brazenly asserting: “I don’t care what Elon Musk is doing behind a presidential seal; in this country, we hate Nazis.” She amplified her rhetoric, accusing Musk of potentially endorsing a “Sieg Heil” or “Heil Hitler” salute in proximity to the emblem of the United States government, stating emphatically, “It’s on! It’s on!”
In response, Netanyahu vehemently denounced the accusations against Musk as “false smears.” He articulated his position: “Elon is a great friend of Israel. He visited Israel after the October 7 massacre, which was perpetrated by Hamas terrorists—an atrocity unparalleled against the Jewish people since the Holocaust.” In a show of solidarity, he emphasized Musk’s unwavering support for Israel, declaring, “He has since repeatedly and forcefully supported Israel’s right to defend itself against genocidal terrorists and regimes that seek to annihilate the one and only Jewish state. I thank him for this.”
Notably, even the left-leaning Anti-Defamation League (ADL) weighed in, suggesting that Musk’s gesture might have stemmed from a moment of awkward enthusiasm rather than a conscious homage to Nazi symbolism. They advised, “It seems that @elonmusk made an awkward gesture…all sides should give one another a bit of grace, and take a breath. This is a new beginning. Let’s hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years ahead.”
Ocasio-Cortez, however, expressed indignation at the ADL’s defense of Musk, retorting that they were effectively endorsing a “Heil Hitler salute.” She added, “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.”
