A nominee put forth by Donald Trump stood up for Elon Musk’s contentious salute on Inauguration Day during her confirmation session.
The salute, which Musk executed twice prior to his speech commemorating Trump’s inauguration on Monday, has sparked significant debate due to its similarities to the Roman salute, often linked to Nazi symbolism.
During a Senate hearing on Tuesday, Democratic Representative Chris Murphy questioned Elise Stefanik, the former Republican House member nominated by Trump to be the United Nations ambassador, regarding this matter.
“What is your opinion on Elon Musk, who could be regarded as the president’s most prominent advisor, performing two ‘Heil Hitler’ salutes during the president’s televised rally?” Murphy inquired.
Stefanik rejected Murphy’s assertion, instead defending Musk, who has characterized the Nazi comparisons as “absolute propaganda.”
“No, Elon Musk did not perform those salutes,” she countered. “I wasn’t present at the rally, but I can tell you I’ve attended many events with Elon Musk, who enthusiastically supports President Trump’s vision of advancing our U.S. space initiative to Mars.”
“The American public is discerning; they understand the situation. They stand behind Elon Musk,” Stefanik articulated, referring to the CEO of Tesla and X as a “visionary.”
Murphy highlighted that Musk’s gesture was reshared and lauded by several neo-Nazi and white nationalist groups.
“Are you troubled by the fact that elements of the neo-Nazi and white supremacist factions in the U.S. interpret what they witnessed as a neo-Nazi salute?” he asked.
“What concerns me is that these are the questions you prioritize as significant for the U.N. ambassador,” Stefanik retorted. “I have a robust track record of fighting against anti-Semitism.”
Supporters of Musk within the MAGA movement argue that his gesture stemmed from an exhilarating moment and was intended to express, “My heart goes out to you.”
