Ex-ESPN star Keith Olbermann claims to know clue that proves Elon Musk's infamous gesture was a Nazi 'salute'
Although Musk has dismissed such accusations as 'dirty tricks,' Olbermann and other liberal pundits have attacked Trump's biggest donor over the incident.
The frequently analyzed tape shows Musk addressing the crowd at the Capital One Arena in Washington on January 20. Before stepping away from the podium at the end of his speech, he placed his right hand over his heart and then extended his arm outward with his palm facing downward and his fingers clutched together.
'My heart goes out to you,' he told the crowd celebrating Trump's electoral win over Kamala Harris. 'It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured.'
That footage has since been studied like the Zapruder film or Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal, with liberals and conservatives giving alternate takes in what's become a political Rorschach test.
Olbermann's latest comment on the subject came in response to self-described 'former liberal' Brandon Straka, who contrasted Musk's gesture with a similar motion from Democratic New Jersey Senator Corey Booker.
On the left: Senator Corey Booker giving a heartfelt, patriotic salute.
On the right: Elon Musk personally resurrecting the Third Reich, according to the media.
Same gesture. Different political party.
Funny how that works. pic.twitter.com/5ygUrTOjy8
— Brandon Straka #WalkAway (@BrandonStraka) June 1, 2025
The proof, Olbermann claims, is that Musk's fingers were closed when he extended his arm
'On the left: Senator Corey Booker giving a heartfelt, patriotic salute,' Straka began sarcastically. 'On the right: Elon Musk personally resurrecting the Third Reich, according to the media.
'Same gesture. Different political party,' Straka continued, dropping the sarcasm. 'Funny how that works.'
Olbermann, the 66-year-old ESPN icon who became a fierce critic of conservatives on MSNBC, disagreed in his own irascible way. In fact, Olbermann thinks he has the clue that proves Musk was indeed doing what some refer to as the 'Roman salute.'
'Musk's hand is closed, fingers together,' Olbermann responded on X. 'That's a salute. Booker's fingers are opened. That's a wave goodbye.'
Olbermann then decided to get personal by adding: 'Your brain is devoid of cells. That's an IQ of 27.'
And the exchange only went downhill from there as Straka joked about Olbermann having intellectual disabilities.
Olbermann was quickly corrected by angry Musk defenders.
'Maybe, and hear me out, neither are Nazi salutes and that's the entire point,' one added.
'Elon Musk's fingers aren't closed or together, and thumb is bent so if that's your argument, try another,' read a different response.
At least one person agreed with Olbermann: 'Maybe the difference is one actually looked like a Nazi salute and came from someone who boosts white nationalists weekly.'
Musk has faced other accusations of antisemitism, such as in November of 2023, when he reposted a claim on X that Jewish communities hated whites.
'Jewish communities (sic) have been pushing the exact kind of dialectical hatred against whites that they claim to want people to stop using against them,' read a post from a self-described cyber security expert going by 'Eric.'
Musk responded: 'You have said the actual truth.'
The South African-born billionaire has also been criticized for allegedly boosting the visibility of antisemitic accounts on X.
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