'Legacy Media Is Pure...': Musk Responds To Backlash Over 'Nazi Salute' Gesture At Trump Event

Last Updated:January 22, 2025, 00:19 IST

Elon Musk faced backlash after making two consecutive hand gestures during an event celebrating Trump's inauguration, which drew comparisons to a Nazi salute.

Elon Musk during his speech at Trump rally | Image/Reuters

After Elon Musk’s one-armed gesture at a Donald Trump rally sparked controversy, with many comparing it to a Nazi salute, the tech billionaire hit back at legacy media, accusing it of spreading “pure propaganda."

Musk faced backlash after making two consecutive hand gestures during an event celebrating Trump’s inauguration, which drew comparisons to a Nazi salute.

Taking to social media X, Elon Musk replied to a post, which shared a collage of former US President Barack Obama, former Vice President Kamala Harris and other prominent figures doing the same one-armed gesture. “Can someone direct me to the articles where the media expressed outrage over this? Can’t find any," the post reads.

Musk wrote: “The legacy media is pure propaganda. You are the media now." He didn’t only call out the legacy media platforms but also reiterated his view that X is the new news media.

Musk At Trump Rally

“This was no ordinary victory. This was a fork in the road of human civilisation. This one really mattered. Thank you for making it happen. Thank you," Musk said, slapping his right hand on his chest, while his fingers were spread wide.

Musk then extended his arm upward, palm down, and fingers together. He turned around and made the same gesture to the crowd behind him. “My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilisation is assured," he added.

Many on X, the social medial platform he owns, have compared the gesture to a Nazi salute. In response, Musk posted on X: “Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired."

While some social media users lashed out at the Tesla CEO, others defended him. The Anti-Defamation League, a New York-based nonprofit, said the gesture was “not a Nazi salute".

“It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge," the organisation said. It defines the Nazi salute as “raising an outstretched right arm with the palm down."

Musk And Legacy Media: The Criticism

This is not the first time Musk has called out legacy media on X. Novak Djokovic defeated Jiri Lehecka in the fourth round of the Australian Open 2025, but faced crowd disruptions and later snubbed Jim Courier for a courtside interview.

Following the match, Elon Musk retweeted Djokovic’s video, criticising “legacy media" and suggesting it’s better to speak directly to the public than through the media’s negativity. He wrote: “It’s way better just to talk to the public directly than go through the negativity of filter of legacy media."

Earlier week, Musk launched a scathing attack on legacy media over their coverage of the Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day.

He accused outlets of spreading misinformation, misleading audiences into believing the Cybertruck malfunctioned and exploded. He also called the Associated Press (AP) “Associated Propaganda."

One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote, “Media headlines are misleading audiences, suggesting the Cybertruck caught fire or exploded due to a malfunction. The truth is that explosives were placed in the back and intentionally detonated, likely as part of a terrorist act." Musk replied, “You don’t hate the legacy media enough."

United States of America (USA)

News world 'Legacy Media Is Pure...': Musk Responds To Backlash Over 'Nazi Salute' Gesture At Trump Event