Elon Musk has reignited controversy surrounding his alleged Nazi salute at President Donald Trump’s inauguration by retweeting a post comparing Taylor Swift’s wave to an infamous salute. The side-by-side image—originally shared on X (formerly Twitter) by a conservative account—juxtaposed a screenshot of Swift greeting fans with a photo of Adolf Hitler, implying an equivalence.
Fans erupt in outrage
Swift’s devoted fan base, known as the Swifties, quickly rallied to defend the pop star, calling Musk’s retweet an “unprovoked smear.” Many pointed out that the out-of-context clip simply showed Swift waving at an event, far from any suggestion of a salute. Even non-Swift fans were taken aback, with some labeling the billionaire’s post “too much” and “completely unfair.”
Controversy stems from Trump inauguration gesture
Musk’s initial wave of criticism began at Trump’s second inauguration, where he made a gesture some found strikingly similar to a Nazi salute—extending his arm straight out with his palm facing down. Though Musk joked about the accusations online, he never explicitly denied the resemblance. His retweet dragging Swift into the fray has only intensified scrutiny.
Previous jabs at Swift
This isn’t Musk’s first dust-up involving Taylor Swift. Last year, after she endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris, Musk—an avid Trump supporter—made a puzzling remark about wanting to “impregnate” the singer. Swifties slammed the comment as crass and inappropriate, adding fuel to the fire of their current backlash.
