Yes, That Was a Nazi Salute

Hello, dear reader. Welcome to the first "Fact Checks by SKH," a thing I apparently need to do now since every legacy media outlet has decided to have selective amnesia about what basic reality is.

Yesterday, Elon Musk—the richest man in the world who flies all around the planet constantly in his private jet and is absolutely aware of what different gestures mean—did a Nazi salute at Trumps inaugural ceremonies from behind the presidential podium.

Twice.

Here's a history professor from NYU specializing in fascist history plainly calling what she sees:

Right wing extremist groups are already taking to their Telegram channels to cheer it on. Nazis across the world have taken note and are celebrating. Even if we were to believe that it was a mistake, a reasonable person would clarify in no uncertain terms: "I made a mistake, that was my fault, and I thoroughly and unequivocally denounce Nazis." But instead, Musk, his weird little cult, and half of legacy media are bending over backwards to explain it as a "roman salute" or, somehow, blaming it on his autism.

Autism doesn't make you Sieg Heil, and saying it was a "roman salute" is just a gaslight-y way of saying it was a Sieg Heil anyway. ITS THE SAME PICTURE.

The ADL tried to be like "WELL look, let's all hold on a sec and give him the benefit of the doubt," to which they've already received hella clapback from Jewish communities.

Hell, even Israeli news outlet Haaretz is like "yeah that was a Nazi salute"

Musk runs a social media platform that specifically allows hate speech and Nazis. He routinely engages with known Nazi accounts. He routinely embraces far-right memes (VERY outdated ones, at that), and has been spewing vile hatred and racist conspiracy theories for years.

You do not need to second guess yourself when he then goes up on stage and does an emphatic Nazi salute to a crowd of far-right people. Twice.

This is not a post to scare you, and we have not learned anything new here. Musk has been, at best, a Nazi sympathizer for years. Unfortunately, this has made a material impact on neo-nazi groups who have taken it to heart due to the obvious, unambiguous nature of what he did on live TV. The time, the place, the intention, and the emphasis he did it with are unmistakable.

While corporate news outlets bend over backwards to not publish a critical headline today, we are left to make sense of reality.

The Jewish people in your community are hurting right now. Check on them, connect with them, and ensure you have a secure method of communicating with them. Signal is a great option.

We've been through a Trump presidency before, but so have they. We know their playbook. Don't be overwhelmed by the absurdity of them telling us not to believe our lying eyes, and be careful not to spiral into oblivion while trying to reconcile how someone could so flippantly dismiss such a fucking disgusting action. The reason they can dismiss it is not convoluted, it is just unfortunate: they too are, at best, a nazi sympathizer.

Take care. Be well. Do good. Hold people accountable.

You owe nobody an apology for stating what is obvious.

Wishing you warmth.