Elon Musk (R-Billionaireville) was clearly thrilled about President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, as he gave two rigid salutes that resembled those performed by the antagonists in World War II films.

Before his alarming gesture, Musk addressed Trump supporters at a post-inauguration event in Capitol One Arena, stating: “Elections come and go; some are significant, and some are not, but this one truly mattered. I just want to express my gratitude for making this happen.”

He then pounded his chest with his right hand and raised that same arm at an angle that was, to be honest, unexpected. He repeated this motion a second time, beaming from ear to ear. This display led to the term “Nazi salute” trending on Google and various social media platforms.

I may not be a historian, but Elon Musk’s unusual salute certainly has WWII-era vibes?

Upon viewing a billionaire who seems to be a close ally of the American president eagerly executing what can be described as a “fascist salute,” the instinctive response is: Gulp. (“Uh-oh” is also acceptable.)

A poor response was what CNN’s Erin Burnett remarked about Musk: “You saw him come out with that peculiar salute.”

“Peculiar” might well refer to the Hamburglar-style hat Melania Trump donned at the inauguration. However, expressing one’s fascist tendencies in a fit of excitement is an entirely different matter.

Some attempted to defend Musk’s salute as ‘Roman.’ This lacks credibility.

Several people rushed to Musk’s defense, suggesting that what he gave was just a “Roman salute,” akin to those seen in gladiator films. The issue with this is that the modern-day depiction of the Roman salute has no solid historical foundation. According to Martin Winkler’s “The Roman Salute: Cinema, History, Ideology”: “Not a single Roman artistic representation—be it sculpture, coins, or paintings—displays a salute similar to that found in Fascism, Nazism, and related ideologies.”

To put it simply, when anyone sees that kind of salute, ancient Rome is usually not the first reference that springs to mind.

So was Musk intentionally giving a Nazi salute, or was he just excited?

Was this a deliberate act of provocation from Musk, or was it a fleeting glimpse of what lies beneath? Who can say?

Regardless of Musk’s intentions behind his unusual salute, some far-right extremists were quick to express their enthusiasm, which is far from ideal.

Moreover, Musk’s recent association with the far-right Alternative for Germany party—considered an extremist group by the German government and whose leader faced fines for using a banned Nazi slogan last year—doesn’t help his case.

Then there’s the straightforward question: Who, no matter how thrilled they might be, spontaneously executes a salute that resembles the one used by Adolf Hitler?

When it comes to fascism, I’d prefer to be overly cautious than too lenient

You’re free to interpret Musk’s arm movements as you wish, and label me an overly sensitive liberal if you like.

But I suspect there were plenty of individuals in the country where that salute became notorious who, at a critical moment in history, thought some were being excessively cautious too.

So I’ll stick to my stance, suggesting that Americans should be seriously worried that someone who aligns with fascists and supports a president often speaking in fascist tones is so entrenched in power.

If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, and salutes like a wannabe Nazi well, you can draw your own conclusions.

Follow YSL News columnist Rex Huppke on Bluesky at @rexhuppke.bsky.social and on Facebook at facebook.com/RexIsAJerk