Critical Backlash on Reddit, the Largest U.S. Community
Musk's Actions Raise Questions
Doubts Emerge Over His Status as 'First Buddy'
'Elon Musk gave a Nazi salute at the White House? Unbelievable' (Post on U.S. community 'Reddit')
Last week, there was a figure who became as much of a hot topic as U.S. President Donald Trump. That was Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, who has been involved in various controversies. On the 20th (local time), at President Trump's inauguration, Musk sparked controversy by making an exaggerated gesture reminiscent of a salute from the 'Nazi Germany' era. On top of that, Musk self-sabotaged by pouring cold water on Trump's private AI infrastructure investment plan, saying, "They have no money." The market raised doubts about whether Musk was truly Trump's 'first buddy.'
Evokes German Nazis and Italian Fascists
The problematic gesture was the salute Musk performed at President Trump's inauguration on the 20th (local time). He placed his right hand on his chest, then raised his arm diagonally with the palm facing downward, repeating the motion twice. Immediately, suspicions arose that the gesture closely resembled the salutes used by German Nazis and Italian Fascists.
On Reddit, the largest online community in the U.S., critical public opinion formed instantly. Posts titled 'Hitler Salute' and 'Nazi Salute' received thousands of comments. People actively debated while sharing Musk's 'GIF' (moving image). Among the most liked comments was one mentioning 'On MLK day.' Martin Luther King Jr. Day is observed annually on the third Monday of January, and coincidentally, this year it fell on January 20th (local time), the day of Trump's inauguration. It is a federal holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr., an African American civil rights activist who dedicated his life to fighting racial discrimination.
A post on X (formerly Twitter) by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, on the 21st (local time). The photo features former U.S. President Barack Obama, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton raising one arm diagonally. Photo by Musk X
Musk quickly struck back. On the 21st (local time), he posted on X (formerly Twitter) another user's post containing a photo of former U.S. President Barack Obama, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton raising one arm diagonally, writing, "The mainstream media is complete propaganda, and now you are the media." He argued that similar gestures by Democratic politicians were not criticized, and only he was targeted. Musk also posted, "If you want to smear me, do better. Attacks like 'everyone is Hitler' are too clich?."
Andrea Stroppa, who is known to have connected Musk with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, reportedly posted and then deleted a message saying, "The Roman Empire has returned, starting with the Roman salute." The Roman salute is a gesture similar to the Nazi salute and was widely used in Italy during the dictatorship of fascist Benito Mussolini. The Anti-Defamation League, an organization that fights anti-Semitism, posted that "Musk seemed to make an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, but it was not a Nazi salute," according to the British BBC.
Criticism of AI Infrastructure Investment Plan
Musk also criticized President Trump's plan for large-scale private sector AI infrastructure investment, saying, "They have no money." On the 22nd (local time), Musk tweeted, "SoftBank has secured less than $10 billion. I confirmed this through reliable sources," targeting the funding.
The day before, President Trump announced at the White House an AI infrastructure investment plan involving OpenAI, Oracle, and Japan's SoftBank, with up to $500 billion (approximately 718 trillion won) to be invested. These three companies formed a joint venture called 'Stargate' to build AI infrastructure such as data centers within the U.S. President Trump praised it as "the largest AI infrastructure project in U.S. history," but Musk, a close confidant, expressed doubts about the project just one day later.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman immediately rebutted Musk's claims. He commented on Musk's post, saying, "As you surely know, you are wrong," and asked, "Would you like to visit the sites where the project is already underway?" He added, "This is very good for the country," and pointedly said, "What is good for the country may not be best for your company, but I hope your new role puts America first."
The U.S. financial daily The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, "Just hours after Trump announced the AI infrastructure project, Musk publicly expressed doubts about the smooth start of the joint venture," and "Musk poured cold water on the Stargate AI project supported by Trump." It further noted, "This shows the sometimes awkward and uncomfortable dynamic between billionaire Musk, who was tasked with government spending cuts and federal bureaucracy streamlining, and the new president," adding, "They signaled that Musk would not reduce his unfiltered remarks online even after Trump's inauguration."
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