Tech billionaire Elon Musk has ignited a wave of controversy following a gesture he made at a rally in Washington celebrating the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

The CEO of SpaceX, and Tesla appeared on stage at the Capital One Arena, where he thanked the crowd for supporting the newly inaugurated president.

Trump was sworn in for a historic second term as president on Monday. In his maiden speech, he vowed to issue immediate orders on immigration.

Musk has reportedly donated approximately $200 million to support Trump’s bid for a second term in office. He has been appointed the head of the newly established Department for Government Efficiency.

Though the advisory group is not formally integrated into the government, it is expected to propose substantial reductions to budgets and bureaucratic processes. The move aligns with the billionaire’s vision of increasing efficiency within government operations, signalling a potential shift in how public resources are managed.

In his speech at the rally, Musk tapped the left side of his chest with his right hand and then extended his arm with an open palm, a move that some observers have likened to a “Nazi salute.”

A historian specialising in Nazism in the US, Claire Aubin, described the gesture as a “sieg heil” on X. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian of fascism, also took to the social media platform and called it “a very belligerent” Nazi salute.

The incident drew quick reactions from Democratic lawmakers, with Congressman Jimmy Gomez remarking, “Well, that didn’t take long.”

Musk, who has been active on social media since the incident, has yet to publicly address the backlash.

Some attendees at the rally interpreted Musk’s gesture as a joke, with one individual noting his humorous and sarcastic style. Meanwhile, far-right commentators praised the gesture, with writer Evan Kilgore calling it “incredible.”

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The Anti-Defamation League defended Musk, suggesting that the gesture was made in a moment of enthusiasm rather than as a Nazi reference.

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticised the ADL’s defence, calling attention to the implications of Musk’s actions.

In contrast, some historians argued against the Nazi characterisation of the gesture, with one noting Musk’s diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome and suggesting it was simply a socially awkward wave to the crowd.