Fox News host Jesse Watters struggled to find an excuse for Elon Musk’s controversial hand gesture on Tuesday, arguing that the billionaire Trump surrogate was “asking for it” by making such a suspicious-looking salute.
Musk received backlash after he made a hand gesture at President Donald Trump’s inauguration which critics argued bore a strong resemblance to a fascist Roman salute.
“Elon’s thing, to grab your heart with one hand and then to shoot it out in the sky,” reacted Watters, as he struggled not to laugh. “You’re just– you’re asking for it. You’re asking for it.”
The Fox News host suggested, “Maybe he’s just not very well coordinated, I don’t know. But I’m sure it was fine. Didn’t he go to Israel to like help save the hostages?”
Jesse Watters Primetime Guest Michael Shellenberger replied, “Well yeah, and also, of course, Elon went to the death camps.”
He continued, “I mean, one of his closest friends is Jewish. You know, I mean, this is ridiculous. Elon Musk and Donald Trump have done more for free speech over the last two years than Democrats have done in the last 20, and I just think that that gives them the moral power that President Trump has needed. You see Zuckerberg falling in line for them to go and push a
While Musk received heavy backlash over the gesture, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) claimed on Monday that it did not resemble a “Nazi salute.”
“This is a delicate moment. It’s a new day and yet so many are on edge. Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety,” the organization declared. “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.”
The ADL concluded, “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.”
Watch above via Fox News.