Elon Musk says ‘I'm not a Nazi’ in Joe Rogan interview and discusses online hate and death threats

Elon Musk has denied allegations that he made a Nazi salute during a public event, dismissing the accusations as "ridiculous" and "pretty stressful." The controversy arose after Musk was seen making a gesture during President Donald Trump’s inauguration celebration in January, which some critics interpreted as a fascist salute. The incident has sparked widespread debate, with Jewish organizations, politicians, and advocacy groups calling for clarification.
In a recent three-hour appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, Musk addressed the backlash, stating that the gesture was not intended as a Nazi salute and expressing frustration over the growing criticisms. He also spoke about the toll of online hate, claiming that there are active discussions on social media platforms about harming him. While some groups condemned his actions, others, including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), defended Musk, arguing that the gesture was taken out of context.
The controversy has been further fueled by Musk’s previous comments and his political affiliations, particularly his perceived support for Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. The debate continues to draw widespread attention, with many questioning Musk’s stance on extremism.

During Trump's inauguration celebration in January, Musk was seen making a diagonal arm movement while addressing the crowd. The gesture immediately caught the attention of political figures and advocacy groups, with some interpreting it as a version of the Nazi salute.
Michel Friedman, former vice president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, called Musk’s actions a "disgrace" and claimed it was a clear "Heil Hitler" salute. U.S. Representative Jerry Nadler also condemned the gesture, and the Simon Wiesenthal Center urged Musk to clarify his intent.
Amid the criticism, Musk-owned X (formerly Twitter) was flooded with accusations, with some users labeling the billionaire a Nazi sympathizer. The ADL, however, took a more neutral stance, suggesting that Musk’s gesture was likely "an awkward moment of enthusiasm rather than a deliberate Nazi salute."

Following the backlash, Musk took to X to refute the allegations, responding with a series of puns referencing Nazi leaders, including phrases like "Don't say Hess to Nazi accusations!" and "Bet you did nazi that coming." While some found the remarks humorous, others criticized him for making light of the situation.
During his interview with Joe Rogan, Musk reiterated his denial, stating:
"Hopefully people realize I'm not a Nazi. Just to be clear, I'm not a Nazi."
He went on to argue that the term "Nazi" should only be applied to individuals engaging in actions like genocide or war.
"What’s relevant about Nazis is, like, are you invading Poland? And if you’re not invading Poland, maybe you’re not a Nazi," Musk remarked.
He added, "You have to be committing genocide and starting wars. What is actually bad about Nazis—it wasn’t their fashion or mannerisms, it was the war and genocide."
Musk also expressed frustration over the relentless criticism he receives, stating, "Now I can never point at things diagonally."

During the interview, Musk revealed that the backlash has taken a personal toll, describing it as "pretty stressful." He claimed that some online communities actively discuss harming him, saying:
"They actually want to kill me. They say so online. There are Reddit forums where they don’t just want to kill me, they want to desecrate my corpse."
The billionaire has faced multiple controversies in recent years, ranging from his political endorsements to allegations of promoting misinformation on X. Musk’s leadership of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a newly formed agency under Trump, has further intensified scrutiny, with critics accusing him of using his government position for personal and political influence.

Musk’s remarks about Nazis are not the only reason his critics have accused him of having far-right sympathies. The CEO has faced backlash for showing support for Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, a nationalist and anti-immigration group.
AfD leaders have been accused of downplaying Nazi crimes, with one member referring to the Holocaust as a mere "speck of bird poop" in Germany’s history. The party has also been known to repurpose Nazi slogans and advocate for policies that critics say are reminiscent of Germany’s dark past.
Although Musk has not officially endorsed AfD, his interactions with far-right figures and his vocal criticisms of progressive policies have led many to question his political leanings.

The controversy surrounding Musk’s alleged Nazi salute and his political views has sparked fierce debate across social media and news platforms. While some argue that Musk is being unfairly targeted, others believe his actions and statements warrant scrutiny.
Musk has not issued an official statement beyond his remarks on X and Rogan’s podcast. However, as the conversation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the backlash will impact his businesses or political standing.
For now, the billionaire appears to be standing his ground, dismissing the accusations while expressing frustration over what he perceives as unwarranted hostility. Whether this controversy will fade or escalate further will likely depend on Musk’s future actions and public responses.