On January 20th, a shocking and controversial event unfolded involving Elon Musk. During an official presidential gathering, Musk appeared to give what looked like two Nazi salutes from a podium featuring the presidential seal. This gesture, often referred to as a “Sieg Heil” or “Roman salute,” drew immediate and significant backlash. As Jewish officials dedicated to fighting antisemitism in New York, we absolutely condemn this act and the absence of any apology. Musk’s history of promoting the antisemitic “Great Replacement” theory and his endorsement of the Nazi-supporting AfD party in Germany make it difficult to believe he was unaware of the significance of his actions.
On his first day, President Trump also implemented a series of sweeping executive measures, including pardoning hundreds of those involved in the January 6 riots. Among them was an individual infamous for wearing a “Camp Auschwitz” shirt during the Capitol insurrection. These decisions will seriously impact many people, and we express our support for the New Yorkers affected by this administration’s actions.
Calling out such behavior should be straightforward. Any group or leader claiming to combat hatred against Jews or other minority communities must do so with volume and clarity. When it comes to Nazi symbolism, there’s no room for doubt or hesitation. Now is the time to stand together and protect each other, refusing to let hate become normalized.
