Elon Musk found himself at the center of online chatter after a hand gesture he made during a speech at a rally celebrating President Trump’s inauguration drew unexpected comparisons. The tech billionaire’s arm extension, with his palm facing down, quickly sparked debate across social media, with some likening it to a “Fascist salute.” The incident happened at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., shortly after Trump’s swearing-in. Musk, who has been a vocal supporter of Trump, thanked the crowd for their role in shaping the future of civilization. “I just want to say thank you for making it happen,” he said with visible emotion, placing his hand over his heart before raising his arm in the controversial motion. He repeated the gesture moments later. Online reactions were swift. Some users called it a “Roman salute,” while others saw it as eerily similar to the Nazi salute. Hasan Piker, a well-known streamer, tweeted, “Did Elon Musk just hit the Roman salute at his inauguration speech?” The Anti-Defamation League weighed in, calling it an “awkward gesture” made in enthusiasm rather than malice. Not everyone was convinced. Masha Pearl of the Blue Card, a nonprofit supporting Holocaust survivors, expressed deep concern, calling the gesture a “symbol of hate, violence, and genocide.” Meanwhile, far-right figures like Andrew Torba of Gab celebrated the moment, sharing photos with captions like, “Incredible things are happening already.” Musk, who didn’t respond to requests for comment, continued his speech, touching on topics like secure borders and humanity’s future on Mars. His brother Kimbal praised the speech as Musk’s “best ever.” The debate, however, continues to swirl online, leaving many wondering about the meaning behind the gesture. ---