As this is a blog about US politics, it is only fitting that its beginning correlates to the beginning of a new presidential administration. In fact, let’s talk about the presidential inauguration that occurred this past Monday.
On Monday, Donald Trump became the 47th US president. Although Trump delivered speeches and was the “star of the show,” a majority of news and social media attention did not go to him.
Rather, it went to one of his most vocal supporters: the wealthiest man in the world, Elon Musk. Previously well known for his involvement in cutting-edge scientific companies such as Tesla and SpaceX, Musk has become more and more invested in US politics, with his support of Trump earning him a new spot as the head of the “Department of Government Efficiency,” aiming to limit government spending and waste.
Here is a link that goes into more detail about Musk’s endeavors.
Thus, it was no surprise that Musk was invited to speak at the inauguration. Throughout his speech, he primarily reiterated his favorite policy points from the Trump administration. However, it was a gesture Mr. Musk made at the conclusion of his speech that sent the world abuzz.
After thanking the audience, Musk slaps his chest with his hand and then extends his arm upward with his palm down. He turns around and repeats this odd maneuver.
Comparisons were almost immediately made to the similarities between Musk’s gesture and the salute popularized by dictator Adolf Hitler.
Conservatives, Liberals, and Musk himself all weighed in on the issue. While many, including Holocaust historians, believed the salute to be irrefutable evidence of Musk’s Nazist beliefs, others chalked it up to an awkward gesture. Musk himself commented on his recent visit to the Auschwitz Death Camp and his Holocaust education.
Long story short: they loved it. Self-identified Nazis around the world took the gesture to mean a sign of support. Niche far-right communities shared the video of Musk’s “salute,” going as far as to claim “we are back.”
I don’t think there is anyone who knows if the world’s richest man is actually a Nazi. But his actions, whether intentional or unintentional, have energized hate and genocidal intentions.
As a Jew, the silence from the last few days has been deafening. It is the willful ignorance by the new administration of the evil they have unintentionally or intentionally fueled the fire of.
Most of all, Musk’s gesture sets a dangerous precedent. Specifically, it sets a precedent of leadership that does not think before they act. A precedent of leadership that does not accept the consequences of their words and actions.
We live in turbulent times – environmentally, politically, socially, etc. It is up to you and me to demand leaders to take responsibility for their words and actions that put people in grave danger. Remember – only through our silence can evil prevail.