Elon Musk Breaks Silence on Viral Hand Gesture Controversy in Joe Rogan Podcast
Elon Musk Addresses Controversial Hand Gesture on Joe Rogan Podcast
Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has once again found himself at the center of public scrutiny, this time over a hand gesture he made during former U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration celebration earlier this year. The gesture went viral, drawing comparisons to a Nazi salute, sparking widespread debate online.
Musk recently addressed the controversy during his appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, which was released on February 28. In the interview, he offered his reaction to the backlash and explained his side of the story.
Elon Musk’s Response to the Backlash
Speaking to Joe Rogan, Musk admitted that he had not anticipated the strong reaction his gesture would receive. “I did not see it coming,” he remarked, according to People magazine’s report. He further explained that the way he pronounced the words “not” and “see” together may have sounded similar to the word “Nazi,” which fueled the controversy.
Referencing Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels, Musk commented that “people will Goebbels anything down,” a statement he had also made earlier in a post on X (formerly Twitter). His remarks suggested that media narratives often distort reality, leading to exaggerated controversies.
Musk Defends His Intentions
Musk firmly defended himself, clarifying that his gesture had no political or offensive intent. According to People, he emphasized that it was meant in a “positive spirit” rather than as a symbol associated with any extremist ideology.
Podcast host Joe Rogan also weighed in on the matter, stating that similar hand gestures are often made in public without controversy. “You did it with a little enthusiasm that probably be recommended with hindsight,” Rogan noted, suggesting that Musk’s animated style may have contributed to the misinterpretation.
Clarifying the Controversy on Social Media
Following the podcast release, Musk took to X to further clarify his stance. He posted a clip from the interview with the caption: “Hopefully people will realize I’m not a Nazi.”
In another post, he reiterated that the real issue with Nazis was not their mannerisms or fashion, but rather their role in war and genocide. “What is bad about Nazis, it wasn’t their fashion sense or their mannerisms, it was the war and genocide. Not the mannerisms and their dress code,” People reported him as saying.
Anti-Defamation League’s Perspective
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) also addressed the controversy, acknowledging that Musk’s gesture may have been awkward but was likely made without ill intent. In a statement on X, the Jewish rights organization noted, “It seems that @elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge.”
The ADL further urged people to exercise caution and restraint before jumping to conclusions. “In this moment, all sides should give one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath. This is a new beginning. Let’s hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years ahead,” the group added.
Musk Pushes Back Against Criticism
Despite the backlash, Musk dismissed the controversy as another example of exaggerated outrage. As per People’s report, he previously responded to critics by calling the trend of labeling public figures as Nazis or Hitler “so tired.” To emphasize his frustration, he even included a sleeping emoji in his response, signaling his disinterest in the debate.
The discussion surrounding Musk’s gesture highlights how public figures’ actions are scrutinized in today’s digital age, with social media amplifying debates that might otherwise have been overlooked.
