Fox News host Laura Ingraham has come to Elon Musk’s defense after the billionaire faced backlash for making a hand gesture that many compared to a Nazi salute. 

The controversy erupted following Musk’s speech at an event after Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration on Monday, 

where he twice extended his arm with his palm down after placing his hand on his chest. Critics immediately condemned the motion, calling it offensive and inappropriate.

However, Ingraham dismissed the outrage, arguing that Musk was simply being expressive and that his detractors were blowing the situation out of proportion.

“Now, we all know that Elon Musk is excited about the Trump agenda and that he’s prone to sudden wild gesticulations,” Ingraham said on The Ingraham Angle on Wednesday. 

“Kinda funny. And that is what the grasping, gasping resistance grabs onto.”

Her comments come nearly a decade after she faced similar accusations for making a comparable gesture at the 2016 Republican National Convention.

Ingraham’s Own Nazi Salute Controversy

During her speech at the 2016 RNC, Ingraham enthusiastically endorsed then-presidential nominee Donald Trump. At the end of her remarks, she extended her arm outward in a motion that critics said closely resembled a Nazi salute.

“I want to say this very plainly: We should all—even all you boys with wounded feelings and bruised egos, we love you—but you must honor your pledge to support Donald Trump now,” she declared before making the controversial gesture.

The backlash was immediate, with many taking to social media to accuse her of making the salute intentionally.

“Um, anyone else catch Laura Ingraham’s Nazi salute?” one Twitter user posted at the time.

Another added, “Kind of a weird way for Laura Ingraham to end her speech.”

However, some defended her, insisting it was an unintentional motion. Journalist Josh Voorhees of Slate acknowledged that while the gesture looked like a Nazi salute, he didn’t believe it was deliberate.

“I do not think it is fair to say Laura Ingraham capped off her remarks at the Republican National Convention by giving a Nazi salute,” he wrote. “However, I do think it is fair to say that Laura Ingraham capped off her remarks at the Republican National Convention with a hand gesture that, intentionally or not, clearly resembled a Nazi salute.”

Elon Musk Faces Similar Scrutiny

Much like Ingraham in 2016, Musk has found himself at the center of controversy after his own hand gesture sparked widespread criticism. Many liberals and political figures condemned the motion, including progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She even criticized the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) after the organization issued a statement saying they did not believe Musk intentionally made a Nazi salute.

California Representative Robert Garcia was also among the critics, calling Musk’s actions “so gross, disgusting.”

Surprisingly, even white nationalist Nick Fuentes—who previously dined with Trump—commented on Musk’s gesture, stating, “Straight up like ‘Sieg Heil,’ like loving Hitler energy.”

Musk Dismisses the Accusations

Musk quickly took to X (formerly Twitter), the social media platform he owns, to fire back at those comparing his gesture to a Nazi salute.

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

His frustration didn’t stop there. When he discovered that his Wikipedia page had been updated to include references to the controversy—while also noting that he denied it—he criticized the online encyclopedia.

“Since legacy media propaganda is considered a ‘valid’ source by Wikipedia, it naturally simply becomes an extension of legacy media propaganda!” Musk wrote, sharing a screenshot of his Wikipedia page.

A Pattern of Controversy

This is far from the first time Musk has courted controversy. In recent years, the billionaire has been involved in multiple high-profile disputes, including accusations of promoting extremist content on X and his ongoing battles with advertisers pulling out of the platform.

Similarly, Ingraham has faced repeated criticism for her commentary on Fox News, particularly for her support of Trump and her strong stance on conservative issues.

Now, nearly a decade after her own Nazi salute controversy, she is standing firmly in Musk’s corner, dismissing the outrage against him as another example of political opponents trying to discredit a prominent Trump ally.

With both Ingraham and Musk refusing to back down, it remains to be seen whether this latest firestorm will fade away or continue fueling debates over free speech, political gestures, and public perception.

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