Musk told supporters, "And I just want to say thank you for making it happen. Thank you," before making the gesture dissected around the world.

The Roman salute is conditionally allowed in Italy and outright banned in Germany. German chancellor Olaf Scholz responded to Musk's gesture by saying, "We have the freedom of speech in Europe and in Germany," he said, "what we do not accept is if this is supporting extreme right positions."

Despite media speculation that Elon Musk made an alleged Nazi gesture on Inauguration Day, the Anti-Defamation League defended Musk in a social media post, calling on all political sides to