After telling the audience "thank you" for reelecting Trump, Musk appeared to grab his chest and then forcefully extended his right arm fully into the air with an outstretched straight hand while making a grunting noise. He then turned around and repeated the gesture before touching his chest again and telling the crowd, "My heart goes out to you."

Musk, arguably Trump’s most influential ally and a confidante, ended his speech at one of Monday’s inaugural celebrations by twice using a one-armed gesture that strongly resembled the Roman salute adopted by the Nazis and used regularly by white nationalist groups.