Article calls it an "Awkward gesture" (paywalled)
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/01/21/elon-musk-salute-trump-inauguration/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub
@ai6yr yeah awkward for the people claiming he’s not an actual Nazi.
"My friend just isn't good socially"
"So he goes around giving Nazi-like salutes on national TV quite often, by accident?"
@me @Dhmspector Pretty much. I mean, even the same general role in the US govt.
@ai6yr @me @Dhmspector He was raised in privilege in an apartheid state, turned a blind eye to racial abuse on the floor of his factories, bought a whole-ass social media platform for billions and lifted its ban on neo-Nazis, then followed the neo-Nazis and celebrated their views, and went on to support Reform UK and the AfD in Germany.
If he *hadn't* signalled his obvious affection for things neo-Nazi at the inauguration, we'd all be celebrating his self-restraint.
@fgbjr @ai6yr @me @Dhmspector Dr Strangemusk? You know, never mind, forget the play on words. The original name works really well—Strangelove.
@ai6yr @Dhmspector I am awkward and autistic yet somehow I have Never Been Remotely Tempted to do a nazi. My partner is autistic and Jewish, and also has never been remotely tempted to do a nazi.
it's almost like those aren't the actual issues and people "blaming" that he's autistic are disingenuous and/or ableist!
@moss @ai6yr @Dhmspector Let me just add my experience: Have been awkward and dorky my whole life. Yet also have never found myself doing Nazi stuff, even by accident.
@mattblaze and if by some horrific yet hypothetical mistake someone does something slightly nazi-ish, the genuine response is to be like HOLY FUCK I AM SO SORRY LET ME DO WHAT I CAN TO MAKE IT RIGHT AND CLARIFY I DID NOT IN ANY WAY MEAN THAT AND WILL NEVER DO IT AGAIN... Not "tee hee" y'know? @ai6yr @Dhmspector