The Anti-Defamation League, a leading antisemitism watchdog, said Elon Musk made an “awkward gesture” on Inauguration Day but it did not appear to be a Nazi salute.

Musk made the gesture while addressing supporters in Washington after the inauguration of President Donald Trump. He was highly emotive throughout the address, pumping his fists and waving his arms often.

At one point, Musk thanked those who voted for Trump by placing his hand over his chest and extending his arm outward with his palm facing down. He followed by saying “my heart goes out to you.”

The gesture sparked comparisons to a Nazi salute from PBS News, which wrote via X that Musk gave “what appeared to be a fascist salute.” PBS further claimed Musk’s gesture “appeared similar to the ‘Sieg Heil’ used by Nazis at their victory rallies.”

Despite the speculation, the ADL defended Musk in a social media post on Monday, calling on all political sides to “give one another a bit of grace.”

“This is a delicate moment,” the ADL wrote via X. “It’s a new day and yet so many are on edge. Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety.”

“It seems that @elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge,” it added. “In this moment, all sides should give one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath. This is a new beginning. Let’s hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years ahead.”

PBS News correspondent Stephanie Sy said during coverage of the speech that Musk’s gesture “certainly appears to be a ‘Heil Hitler.’”

“At the time, what he was saying — we went back to the transcript, and I remember him saying it, he was saying, ‘My heart goes out to you,’ ” she added. “So he was gesturing to his chest and then there was the hand straight out, which harkens back for a lot of folks to the Nazi salute.”

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., seconded that claim on social media.

“There’s no way to sugarcoat this,” Murphy wrote. “This is the Nazi salute. This is the Nazi f—ing salute.”

Murphy also questioned New York Rep. Elise Stefanik about Musk’s gesture on Tuesday during her Senate confirmation hearing to serve as United Nations ambassador.

“No, Elon Musk did not do those salutes,” Stefanik said in response. “What concerns me is this is … these are the questions you believe are most important to ask to the U.N. ambassador.”

Musk has pushed back strongly against the negative interpretation of his hand gesture. He also thanked the ADL for defending him in a reply on X.

“Frankly, they need better dirty tricks,” Musk wrote. “The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired.”

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