World

Did Musk do a ‘Nazi’ salute and does it play into neo-fascists' hands?

Published

1 year ago

January 22, 2025

Did Musk do a ‘Nazi’ salute and does it play into neo-fascists' hands?

Historians disagree over the significance of Musk’s gesture, which is reminiscent of the greeting used by 20th century fascists and their modern-day supporters.

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.

Click to comment

World

Investors brace for a bigger backlash from Middle East war

Published

3 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Investors brace for a bigger backlash from Middle East war

From being just a fringe risk, conflict in the Middle East has become a top worry for investors unsettled by the prospect of a power struggle in Iran and a protracted regional war, with ramifications for everything from global trade to inflation.

World

Tel Aviv analyst shelters from 30 missile sirens in 48 hours, says Iran ‘won’t recover’

Published

4 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Tel Aviv analyst shelters from 30 missile sirens in 48 hours, says Iran ‘won’t recover’

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The past 48 hours in Tel Aviv have been unlike anything seen before, a leading security analyst has said, as sirens blared amid missile threats following Operation Epic Fury and U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran.

“We are facing a biblical event — nothing less,” Kobi Michael, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies and the Misgav Institute, told Fox News Digital, speaking from his shelter in the city.

Like many Israelis, Michael said he had spent hours in reinforced rooms during the ongoing barrage, adding that he was “very experienced in this.”

“But this all requires time and determination, and I do hope that Trump will also have them both,” he said, speaking shortly after the president released a video message stating that the military operation would continue “until all of our objectives are achieved.”

Explosions from projectile interceptions by Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system over Tel Aviv. (JACK GUEZ / AFP via Getty Images)

“Trump is the only one who can make the change — and that change will impact the entire region and the international order for years to come,” Michael added.

As of Sunday, Tel Aviv remained under a state of emergency following Iranian missile attacks that caused casualties and widespread damage.

According to The Associated Press, Iranian missile and drone strikes have killed approximately 11 Israeli civilians and wounded dozens more in retaliation for the U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran.

Shrapnel from missile impacts damaged at least 40 buildings in Tel Aviv, and authorities reported at least one death in the area from falling debris.

The Philippine Embassy in Israel confirmed the death of a Filipino national after a missile strike hit Tel Aviv on Saturday.

TOMAHAWKS, B-2 STEALTH BOMBERS AND ATTACK DRONES POUND OVER 1,000 IRANIAN TARGETS IN 24-HOUR BLITZ

People take shelter as Iran launched missiles and drones towards Israel following the US-Israeli attacks. ( Mostafa Alkharouf/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“We enter our shelter once the siren is heard and stay there until the Home Front Command announces that we can leave,” Michael said.

“Usually, it is about 20 to 30 minutes — unless there are further sirens during our stay. Since yesterday morning, it has happened around 30 times.”

Israel’s President Isaac Herzog also visited an impact site in Tel Aviv Sunday, delivering a message of resilience.

“The people of Israel and the people of Iran can live in peace. The region can live in peace. But what undermines peace time and again is terror instigated by this Iranian regime,” Herzog said.

EXILED IRANIAN CROWN PRINCE SAYS US STRIKES MARK ‘BEGINNING OF THE VERY END’ FOR REGIME

Israeli emergency service officer walks past building debris at the scene of a Iranian missile attack. (Ahmad GHARABLI / AFP via Getty Images)

Following the reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and roughly 40 senior Iranian officials, Iran formed a provisional leadership council.

Iran named Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, President Masoud Pezeshkian and Judiciary Chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje’i to lead roles.

“The Supreme Leader did not complete the necessary groundwork regarding his own succession,” Michael added.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

“Pezeshkian will face very troubling challenges due to their heavy losses, severe disruptions to control and command systems, and the massive bombing and attacks across Iran, including Tehran,” he said.

“Even if this regime doesn’t collapse, it will never be able to reconstitute itself, recover or return to its previous position,” Michael added.

Emma Bussey is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. Before joining Fox, she worked at The Telegraph with the U.S. overnight team, across desks including foreign, politics, news, sport and culture.

World

Israel FM says Europe too divided, slams Spanish PM

Published

5 hours ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Israel FM says Europe too divided, slams Spanish PM

Israeli minister Gideon Sa’ar said Europe “does not have unified position” on what role it should play in Iran as European ministers sought to establish a joint approach Sunday.

As Israel and the United States conducted a joint military strike on Iran, leading to the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Europe was kept on the sidelines.

EU member states did not participate in the operation and, in some cases, they were not informed prior as it is customary among strategic allies.

Asked whether Israel sought to keep Europe on the margins, Sa’ar said internal divisions within EU member states had kept them out of critical exchanges of operational details, unlike the United States, which the minister described as his country’s greatest ally.

“In Europe, you have all kinds of approaches,” he told Euronews. “You have countries like the Czech Republic which is strongly supporting this operation and then you have Spain, which is standing with all the tyrants of the world.”

On Saturday, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez was among the most critical voices in Europe, suggesting the US-Israeli strikes on Iran risk plunging the region into total war.

“We reject the unilateral military action of the United States and Israel, which represents an escalation and contributes to a more uncertain and hostile international order,” Sánchez said Saturday. The Spanish PM reiterated that message on Sunday.

“We urge for de-escalation and call to respect international law in all conflicts,” Sánchez added. “You can be against a heinous regime, like the Iranian regime, while also rejecting a military intervention that is unjustified, dangerous and outside of international law.”

Sa’aar said Israel considers the operation “fully justified” citing the right to self-defense from a regime that “has called for the destruction of Israel” and lashed at the Spanish prime minister for sending an “anti-Israeli, anti-American message.”

“Read the statement, they are standing with Iran!” he added.

When asked if any of his European counterparts had manifested an interest in joining the military operation or provide support on the ground, Sa’ar said he held multiple exchanges with European ministers over the weekend and suggested that “if others want to join, they will know have to convey the message.”

On Sunday, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen appeared to back regime change in Iran in line with Israel and the US, saying that the “risk of further escalation is real. This is why a credible transition in Iran is urgently needed” in comments on Sunday.

Sa’ar told Euronews said the strategic strikes and the elimination of Khamenei alongside top regime commanders could “create the conditions to weaken the regime enough to allow the Iranians to take their future into their own hands”.

“The future leadership of Iran should be determined by the Iranian people through free elections. Our only requirement is that whoever comes to power in Iran must not pursue the destruction of Israel,” he said.

Watch the full interview on Euronews from 8pm CET