Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stepped up to defend Elon Musk, insisting the tech mogul is being unfairly labelled a Nazi sympathiser. However, no sooner had Netanyahu given his support, than Musk unleashed a barrage of pun-laden posts referring to notorious Nazi figures—Rudolf Hess, Joseph Goebbels, and more.
Netanyahu’s Vocal Support for Musk
Netanyahu posted on social media early Thursday, stating that Musk was “falsely smeared” following criticism of a gesture the Tesla and X boss made at a Donald Trump rally. Many felt Musk’s move resembled the infamous Nazi salute, an accusation that Musk calls “politically motivated.”
“Elon is a great friend of Israel,” wrote Netanyahu, citing Musk’s recent visit to the country after the October 7 Hamas attacks. “He has forcefully supported Israel’s right to defend itself against genocidal terrorists.”
Musk has pinned a video of his remarks—and the contentious salute—to his X profile, and brushed off accusations by labelling them “tired Hitler references.”
A Rash of Nazi Puns
Shortly after Netanyahu’s declaration, Musk offered a “thank you” to the Israeli Prime Minister, then posted:
“Don’t say Hess to Nazi accusations! Some people will Goebbels anything down! Stop Gőring your enemies! His pronouns would’ve been He/Himmler! Bet you did nazi that coming.”
Unsurprisingly, this sent social media into overdrive. While Musk’s defenders argue his salute was simply an awkward attempt to express heartfelt gratitude, detractors insist it was undeniably reminiscent of a Nazi salute.
Critics vs. Defenders
Abraham Foxman, ex-director of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), condemned Musk’s action, calling it a “Heil Hitler Nazi salute.”
Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) was similarly blunt: “There’s no way to sugarcoat this. This is the Nazi salute.”
However, the ADL itself came to Musk’s defence, dubbing his gesture “an awkward moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute,” urging everyone to take a breath.
A History of Accusations
This isn’t the first time Musk has been linked to antisemitic controversies. In November 2023, he visited Israel amid backlash for letting antisemitic content thrive on X, formerly Twitter. Meeting President Isaac Herzog, Musk heard a direct plea: curb the hatred of Jews that flares up online. Still, as far as Netanyahu is concerned, Musk remains an “unfairly tarnished ally.”
