Elon Musk made a hand gesture that resembled a Nazi salute. The anger and confusion that followed is just what a troll like Musk would want, Charlie Warzel writes. https://theatln.tc/212ISHY0
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Everyone knows it was a Nazi Salute. This includes every person who wrote an article similar to this, and every editor that let it be published. It’s amazing how many people are totally okay with the Nazi Salute being used at a presidential inauguration.
Contextual collapse. It's either a 'joke' or a way to test the waters - gauging public reaction before doubling down, whether as a 'misunderstanding' or by unmasking himself as an actual Nazi. Either way, it was exactly what you think it was.
If it was a slip-up, he would need to say so, make a statement, whatever. Because he hasn't, it remains a Nazi salute. And this is exactly what he wants. He gets to have his dog whistle to white supremacists and gaslight the rest of his supporters into writing it off as "awkward". Despicable.
Why are you guys trying so hard to excuse this guys he did it twice after constantly posting white supremacist stuff on X all day I mean what are we doing here
All we need to take away from that is to divest from all things Musk, Meta AND Bezos.
We've all seen the salute, we're not debating what it meant, we're acting accordingly.
The debating club is gearing up.
When a person whose family were Nazi sympathizers. And the same person supports current fascist politicians in Germany. It is most certainly a Nazi salute.
One major problem with educated progressives, and the reason we are losing young male voters to right wing media, is we care more about being fair than honest.
We all saw it. It did not resemble shit, it was a Nazi salute, just fucking say it.
How so? The end of the article paints his views pretty clear: “a fitting spectacle to begin the second Trump administration: a bunch of people arguing endlessly over something everyone can see with their own eyes.”
That’s a soft response to Elon’s clear Nazi salute to all the white supremacists and Nazi groups living in America, who are all now in empowered by musk’s action. Musk is now supporting the Nazi party of Germany. The Nazi’s knew what he meant. You need cover media more clearly.
"that resembled" a Nazi salute? no, it WAS a racist nazi salute. Why would the Atlantic say "resembled"? Say it for what it was. The European media says it for what it was (a Nazi salute)
The gop is the Nazi party and the religious people are backing them. Christianity has been hijacked by the right. It’s sickening. They should be ashamed, But they’re laughing at every Christian who votes for them.
What every story about this failed to mention is some of the audience members did the same gesture in return towards Musk, explain that one to me? Magats doing an imaginary "Roman salute" also? No they knew what was going on
I thought my father was an asshole, but Musk's father is a roaring asshole. Musk is damaged, an unloved child trapped in a man's body lashing out.
His ongoing therapy in the media is spectacle.
No, he didn't made a "hand gesture", he made several complex coordinated movements, with his head, arms, chest and hand that are only used by some political movement.
"He's just trolling" I - an educated intellectual - chuckle to myself as I am ushered into the reeducation camp a bit too forcefully for my liking. "What a jape!"
The Republican euphemisms died a long time ago. Honestly, it doesn't even matter whether it was a "Nazi" salute or not... it's a distinction without a difference at this point.
Exactly. And the second most disgusting thing about it was that all those in attendance smiled and clapped like circus animals. Not a shocked face among them.
No one is confused, Charlie. I see you are so let me help, it was not even a dog whistle because those are covert. This was overt. This is a nazi salute. Hope that was helpful
You can recognize a Nazi when you see one. But to Charlie Warzel, even if Hitler supernaturally appeared before him, Warzel would still doubt that it was Hitler.
Almost overnight, America has turned into a Nazi regime. Henchmen are out in full force rounding up human beings to ship them off to detention camps, and now there are people in the WH making Nazi salutes. Elon would change his tune if his children were being dragged off to a gas chamber!
Does it matter? The American Nazi group has already approved the signal so whether it was intended or mistake, the symbolic gesture landed exactly where it resonated best. Stupid doesn't get to take a holiday.
The idea that he accidentally gave a Nazi salute—TWICE—as some kind of “autistic slip” is deeply offensive to every person with autism. Don’t you dare tell us that calling a Nazi when we see one is somehow “just what they want you to do.” How very 1984 of you.
That freaking face he made! I printed out color copies and mailed them to our senators and representative. The man has NO RIGHT to have an office in the White House, and he shouldn't be involved SpaceX. The government needs to buy 50% of SpaceX and fire the Nazi.
He is supporting far right Nazi groups all over Europe and you are trying to downplay him giving the Nazi salute TWICE at the felon's installation as dictator in chief? SERIOUSLY?
Has Musk forcefully denied this is a Nazi salute? As far as I can tell the answer is no. To me that says all you need to know. If they said he was a pedo I bet he would clear it up fast and loud (s&it he was ready for was over h1b visas), which tells you what he thinks is acceptable.
I bet the conversation he was having before this was.. I think I'm just going to give America the finger on live TV. They're bought and paid for, they know it, I most certainly know it... fuck it, I'm going full Nazi.
Apartheid Clyde threw a Nazi salute. It wasn't "a hand gesture that resembled" one... in fact he did it twice, behind the Presidential seal, and was roundly applauded. Shame on you for the gaslighting!
Look at the look on his face as he does it. It’s fuck you deal with this look. He’s a racists apartheid raised South African nazi sympathizer and let’s hope somebody will curb his ego. Otherwise who knows he just might get his way
I started a trial subscription and was motivated to pair with it with print as well because I was impressed by the depth in the sample of articles I read. I will not support a media outlet that engages in this level of sanewashing, though. It's how we got where we are now. Musk saluted twice.
The dude who has a history of Tweeting antisemitic material, amplifies white-nationalist groups, and openly endorses the neo-Nazi party in Germany just didn't throw up something that "resembled" a Nazi salute.
He doesn’t even deny it! Why are you giving him the benefit the doubt. Let him profusely apologize for the misunderstanding. Until then, call it what it is or just don’t report on it
Are you fucking joking with this squib? Everyone says the Atlantic is one place where truth matters, but apparently not. It was a Nazi salute. Twice. Musk is a fucking Nazi sympathizer. Just look at Twitter now.
Why would you write that as a question? He clearly did it. Don’t start giving them the benefit of the doubt now. That’s what they want. They want to mess with our minds. He did a Nazi salute.
Let’s ask the people who can be considered subject matter experts…
Ok, ok, reports are coming in…
Historians: it’s a Nazi salute
Germans: it’s a Nazi salute
Neo-Nazis: it’s a Nazi salute
The results are in, and survey says…..
It’s a Nazi salute
Why are you obfuscating about what’s blindingly obvious to anyone with more than a single brain cell?
Leon Smuk is an out and proud Nazi who is no doubt laughing hysterically at your ludicrous attempts to excuse him.
Get a backbone!
What's the difference between doing a Nazi salute and enjoying the "controversy" created by doing a Nazi salute? He likes Nazis and did a Nazi thing. See how easy that was?
Musk has been shamelessly promoting Alice Weidel, the leader of a German neo-nazi party. Then to celebrate Trump's inauguration, he twice made a nazi-style "gesture" to an audience of right wingers and nazis. What are we supposed to think?
Stop making this a grey area. The media has downplayed for too long and it’s partly to blame for the situation the US is in. He’s a nazi. There is no pretending anymore.
Comments
Don’t question it; you saw what you saw and have the guts to call it out.
But them you bite on the hook?
This kind of complicit, weasel apologism is how we got WWII and the Holocaust.
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/21/the-gesture-speaks-for-itself-germans-divided-over-musks-apparent-nazi-salute
We've all seen the salute, we're not debating what it meant, we're acting accordingly.
The debating club is gearing up.
We all saw it. It did not resemble shit, it was a Nazi salute, just fucking say it.
We really expected better from the Atlantic.
I am getting really sick of sanewashing and expected better from the Atlantic.
carry
water
for
established
anti-semites
His ongoing therapy in the media is spectacle.
https://bsky.app/profile/thetnholler.bsky.social/post/3lgb6athql22i
There was no uncertainty about it. Don't gaslight people!
#politics #fuckdonaldtrump #fuckelonmusk #elonisanazi
https://youtu.be/0dBJIkp7qIg?si=PFzYGWHPJjCmXIy1
I don't think I need to follow any publication that can't call out fascism in front of our eyes. Do better
fuck you.
No “CONFUSION” either.
Neo nazis are thrilled.
And the fact that he is furiously trying to make it disappear mean that he knows it was one.
Musk did a Sieg Heil to the baying mob.
Twice.
IT.
WAS.
A.
FUCKING.
NAZI.
SALUTE.
🫵🤡
The long arc of subscription dollars is shifting towards publications with integrity.
It absolutely WAS a Nazi salute. Say it. Quit being afraid. Quit making excuses. Stand for America or get the hell off this site.
Everyone will wake up on the trains.
Yes. Unequivocally he nazi saluted. And then he did it again, to assure everyone he was doing a nazi salute.
Mealy-mouthed milquetoast approach.
https://bsky.app/profile/sirnorman.bsky.social/post/3lgb23qzbcc2x
STOP IT.
How dare you guys pull this pandering shit.
What? No, I didn’t just flip you off. Stop being so dramatic.
There is no confusion, Nazis cheered it because they saw it was a Nazi salute and say what you will about Nazis they know Nazis salutes.
It's not a "troll" it's a direct threat to democracy from a party and president that is likewise.
What is wrong with you?
The dude who has a history of Tweeting antisemitic material, amplifies white-nationalist groups, and openly endorses the neo-Nazi party in Germany just didn't throw up something that "resembled" a Nazi salute.
A Nazi did a Nazi salute.
I'm unfollowing Atlantic and I encourage others to do so as well.
Ok, ok, reports are coming in…
Historians: it’s a Nazi salute
Germans: it’s a Nazi salute
Neo-Nazis: it’s a Nazi salute
The results are in, and survey says…..
It’s a Nazi salute
Leon Smuk is an out and proud Nazi who is no doubt laughing hysterically at your ludicrous attempts to excuse him.
Get a backbone!