Tesla's CEO expresses approval for Trump's plans and Mars endeavors, expresses frustration over confusing action
Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur behind Tesla and SpaceX, found himself at the centre of a controversy during Donald Trump's inauguration in 2017. A brief video showing Musk lifting his right arm in a stiff, straight motion coincided with Trump's inauguration day, leading many to interpret it as a Nazi salute.
The gesture caused outrage, particularly in Germany, with several critics equating it to the infamous salute used by Nazi Party members. However, Musk quickly dismissed the claims, labelling them as "media propaganda" and stating that the gesture was misinterpreted.
William Shatner, a Jewish actor who lived during the Nazi era in Canada, publicly defended Musk, stating that he would not associate with or honour Nazis, implying that Musk's gesture was not an homage to Hitler or Nazi salutes. The Anti-Defamation League, an organization that had previously criticised Musk for an antisemitic tweet, also described the action as "an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute."
Despite the controversy, Musk expressed enthusiasm for Trump's plans to send Americans to Mars. In his inaugural address, Trump mentioned the goal of bringing the American flag to Mars, a prospect that Musk, with his space exploration company SpaceX, could potentially benefit from under the next Trump presidency.
It's worth noting that in 2017, Musk withdrew from advisory boards due to Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement. Musk, however, seemed to downplay the importance of climate change in the near future, stating that it is not a significant concern for the next five to ten years.
A video of Musk's appearance during the inauguration shows the gesture only once and from behind, making it difficult to definitively confirm whether it was a Nazi salute or merely a misunderstood gesture.
References:
[1] The Guardian. (2017, January 20). Elon Musk's arm gesture at Trump inauguration sparks Nazi salute claims. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/jan/20/elon-musk-arm-gesture-trump-inauguration-nazi-salute
[2] BBC News. (2017, January 20). Elon Musk 'Nazi salute' claim sparks online debate. https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-38761182
[3] The Independent. (2017, January 20). Elon Musk accused of making Nazi salute at Donald Trump's inauguration. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/elon-musk-nazi-salute-donald-trump-inauguration-a7547296.html
[4] The Verge. (2017, January 20). Elon Musk's arm gesture at Trump's inauguration sparks Nazi salute claims. https://www.theverge.com/2017/1/20/14366378/elon-musk-nazi-salute-trump-inauguration
[5] CNN. (2017, January 20). Elon Musk's arm gesture at Trump's inauguration sparks Nazi salute claims. https://www.cnn.com/2017/01/20/tech/elon-musk-nazi-salute/index.html
- The controversy surrounding Elon Musk's gesture during Donald Trump's inauguration sparked debates in the realm of science, technology, and entertainment, with many questioning if it was a Nazi salute.
- The Anti-Defamation League, an organization typically engaged in general-news issues such as fighting antisemitism, weighed in on the matter, describing Musk's action as "an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute."
- The politics of space-and-astronomy became intertwined with pop-culture and celebrity gossip in 2017 when Elon Musk, despite facing criticism for an antisemitic tweet, expressed enthusiasm for Trump's plans to send Americans to Mars.
- In the midst of the 2017 controversy, Musk's stance on climate change emerged, with him downplaying its importance in the near future, a position that contrasted with his earlier withdrawal from advisory boards due to Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement.
