Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to the defense of Elon Musk, billionaire entrepreneur and head of the US Department of Government Efficiency, amid accusations of making a hand gesture resembling a Nazi salute.
Calling Musk a “great friend of Israel,” Netanyahu highlighted the Tesla CEO’s visit to Israel following the October 7 Hamas attacks and praised his support for Israel’s right to defend itself.
Netanyahu’s Statement
In a post on X, Netanyahu stated:
“Elon Musk is being falsely smeared. Elon is a great friend of Israel. He visited Israel after the October 7 massacre in which Hamas terrorists committed the worst atrocity against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. He has since repeatedly and forcefully supported Israel’s right to defend itself against genocidal terrorists and regimes who seek to annihilate the one and only Jewish state. I thank him for this.”
Musk Faces Backlash Over Controversial Gesture
The controversy arose during Musk’s speech celebrating Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration on January 20. Musk’s gesture, allegedly resembling a Nazi salute, has drawn sharp criticism.
In response to the allegations, Musk dismissed his critics, calling them “radical leftists” and accusing them of employing tired political tactics:
“The radical leftists are really upset that they had to take time out of their busy day praising Hamas to call me a Nazi.”
“Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired,” Musk added.
Public Reaction
Musk’s remarks and Netanyahu’s defense have sparked intense debate on social media, with opinions divided over the appropriateness of both the gesture and the accusations.
Netanyahu’s strong endorsement signals continued support for Musk amid the controversy, framing him as a key ally in Israel’s defense against terrorism.