Elon Musk’s crowd salute draws ugly comparisons after inauguration.

Elon Musk gave an impassioned speech donald trump On Monday, hours after the president’s inauguration, fans… And he made a gesture reminiscent of those dark days.

At Capital One Arena, the Tesla and SpaceX CEOs grinned maniacally and strode to the podium to thank the cheering crowd. He then slammed his right hand against his chest and held his palm down. It looked suspiciously like a Nazi salute. He then repeated the same action to those sitting behind him.

This provocative sign has many people online and on air comparing the phrase to the “Sieg Heil” salute to the Nazi German dictator during World War II. Adolf Hitler. The salute is said to have originated from the salute of the ancient Roman Empire, where it was more commonly performed with a chest strike. Both salutes are commonly associated with Europe’s fascist history.

Musk called Trump’s victory “a crossroads in human civilization.”

Musk is widely I was ridiculed last fall He took the stage for Trump’s introduction last October, jumping up and down, flashing his midriff and declaring himself “Dark MAGA” before giving Trump a flattering speech.