Netanyahu jumps to Musk's defense over salute: 'Falsely smeared'

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Elon Musk after he was accused of doing a Nazi salute at an event following Monday’s inauguration.

“@elonmusk is being falsely smeared,” he wrote in a Thursday post on the social platform X.

“Elon is a great friend of Israel. He visited Israel after the October 7 massacre in which Hamas terrorists committed the worst atrocity against the Jewish people since the Holocaust,” he added.

During Musk’s visit he went to a kibbutz, an international community in Israel that was raided by Hamas during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack according to Al Jeezera.

While there, the Tesla CEO agreed to not provide internet access to Gaza through his satellite company Starlink without Israeli approval as reported by the outlet.

Netanyahu said Musk’s support of the Middle Eastern nation has been staunch ever since.

“He has since repeatedly and forcefully supported Israel’s right to defend itself against genocidal terrorists and regimes who seek to annihilate the one and only Jewish state,” Netanyahu wrote. “I thank him for this.”

Musk said claims that he was doing a Nazi salute was spurred by “radical leftists."

“The radical leftists are really upset that they had to take time out of their busy day praising Hamas to call me a Nazi,” Musk wrote on Wednesday making subsequent reposts with Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris and others photographed holding out their hand in a similar stance.

A day later, he inserted Nazi generals into a longer post making fun of their claims.

“Don’t say Hess to Nazi accusations! Some people will Goebbels anything down! Stop Gőring your enemies,” Musk posted on Thursday.

“His pronouns would’ve been He/Himmler! Bet you did nazi that coming,” he added with a laughing emoji.

Lawmakers including Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said Musk’s gesture was a signal to neo-Nazis that President Trump stands with them, especially following Musk's recent support for the German political Alternative for Germany (AfD).

“He endorsed the far-right neo-Nazi party in Germany. But you don’t have to believe me,” Murphy said during a Wednesday appearance on MSNBC.

“Just look at what happened that night on far-right Telegram channels. Neo-Nazi groups and white supremacist groups here in the United States said, ‘That’s our guy. That’s our signal. Donald Trump’s with us. He’s with our white supremacy agenda.’”

Topics

Musk mocks Nazi salute accusations with puns

Elon Musk referenced Adolf Hitler and other Nazi leaders in a social media post filled with puns early Thursday taunting those who accused him of doing a Nazi salute at an event after President ...
The Hill - 11h
Elon Musk's father calls claims Elon made Nazi salute 'rubbish'

Errol Musk laughed and defended his son against allegations of making a Nazi salute, calling the accusation "absolute nonsense" and "rubbish."
The Hill - 13h
German journalist on Elon Musk: 'A Hitler Salute is a Hitler Salute is a Hitler Salute'

A political editor for a German newspaper is blasting billionaire Elon Musk over a hand gesture Musk made that has sparked widespread outrage. "A Hitler Salute is a Hitler Salute is a Hitler ...
The Hill - 1d
Did Elon Musk give a Nazi or Roman salute, and what’s the difference?

Historians say Musk clearly made Nazi salute – but supporter claims he was inspired by Roman greeting adopted by Benito Mussolini. The back-to-back gestures were swift and enthusiastic, and they ...
The Guardian - 2d
‘The gesture speaks for itself’: Germans respond to Musk’s apparent Nazi salute

Some say it was an unambiguous Nazi salute but others are unsure and say focus should be on Musk’s stated support for far-right. Did Elon Musk give a Nazi or Roman salute, and what’s the ...
The Guardian - 2d
Musk on salute blowback: 'Frankly, they need better dirty tricks'

Elon Musk responded to criticism of his gesture during a post-inauguration speech on Monday, saying those comparing it to a Nazi salute were deploying "dirty tricks." “Frankly, they need better ...
The Hill - 2d
ADL: 'Awkward' Musk gesture 'not a Nazi salute': 'This is a delicate moment'

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a nonprofit focused on combating antisemitism, defended tech billionaire Elon Musk’s “awkward” gesture during a Monday celebratory event which some critics panned ...
The Hill - 2d
Nadler condemns 'what appears to be a Heil Hitler salute' from Musk

Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) was among those who sharply criticized billionaire Elon Musk on Monday for making "what appears to be a Heil Hitler salute" during an event celebrating the inauguration ...
The Hill - 3d
Elon Musk appears to make back-to-back fascist salutes at inauguration rally

Tech billionaire wades into controversy after shooting right arm on upwards diagonal during Trump celebrations. Donald Trump returns to office – live updates Elon Musk waded into controversy ...
The Guardian - 3d