Tech billionaire Elon Musk has sparked global controversy after making a gesture during an event celebrating Donald Trump’s inauguration as U.S. president on January 20, 2025. The gesture, which involved Musk placing his hand over his heart before extending it forward with his palm down, has drawn comparisons to the Nazi salute used in Germany during Adolf Hitler’s regime.
Joe Rogan and Elon Musk’s Salute
Critics and historians have labeled the act troubling, while Elon Musk and some of his defenders have dismissed the backlash as overblown or politically motivated. Podcaster and UFC commentator Joe Rogan, a longtime friend of Musk and Trump, addressed the controversy on his show, attempting to provide context for what he called a “gaffe.