Trump Nominee Defends Elon Musk’s Salute at Confirmation Hearing
A Donald Trump nominee defended Elon Musk’s controversial Inauguration Day salute during her confirmation hearing.
The gesture, a straight-arm salute Musk made twice before delivering a speech celebrating Trump’s swearing-in on Monday, has stoked controversy and debate for its resemblance to the Roman salute, a symbol most commonly associated with the Nazis.
BREAKING: Elon Musk does a Roman Salute at the Trump Presidential Parade pic.twitter.com/cUm5oE5a1m
— elozawi (@elozawi) January 20, 2025
Democratic Rep. Chris Murphy pressed Elise Stefanik, the former House Republican who is Trump’s nominee for United Nations ambassador, about the issue while she faced senators on Tuesday.
“What do you think of Elon Musk, perhaps the president’s most visible advisor, doing two ‘Heil Hitler’ salutes last night at the president’s televised rally?” Murphy asked.
Stefanik wasn’t willing to accept the premise of Murphy’s question, instead going to bat for Musk, who has dismissed the Nazi comparison as “pure propaganda.”
MURPHY: What do you think of Elon Musk doing two Heil Hitler salutes at the president's rally?
STEFANIK: No. Elon Musk did not do those salutes. I've been at many rallies with Elon Musk who loves to cheer when President Trump says we need to send our US space program to Mars. pic.twitter.com/tAfbcTpRAd— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 21, 2025
“No, Elon Musk did not do those salutes,” she said. “I was not at the rally, but I can tell you I’ve been at many rallies with Elon Musk, who loves to cheer when President Trump says we need to send our U.S. space program to Mars.”
“The American people are smart, they see through it. They support Elon Musk,” Stefanik said, describing the Tesla and X CEO as a “visionary.”
Murphy pointed out that Musk’s gesture was reshared and praised by a number of neo-Nazis and white nationalists.
“Does it concern you that those elements of the neo-Nazi and white supremacist element in the United States believe that what they saw last night was a neo-Nazi salute?” he asked.
“What concerns me is this is what, these are the questions you believe are most important to ask to the U.N. ambassador,” Stefanik fired back. “I have a very strong record when it comes to combating anti-Semitism.”
MAGA defenders of Musk’s gesture have suggested that it came from a moment of frenzied excitement and was meant to convey, “My heart goes out to you.”