ADL Faces Backlash for Defending Elon Musk’s Controversial Gesture
Pro-Israel Group Sparks Controversy After Downplaying Musk’s Raised-Arm Salute
Washington, DC – The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has come under fire for defending Elon Musk after he made a raised-arm gesture at an inauguration rally for U.S. President Donald Trump. Critics likened Musk’s motion to a Nazi salute, but the ADL dismissed it as an “awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm.”
The ADL, which describes itself as the world’s leading anti-hate organization, took to social media on Monday to downplay the incident. However, its swift defense of Musk starkly contrasts with its previous statements on anti-Semitism. Months earlier, ADL head Jonathan Greenblatt had controversially compared the Palestinian keffiyeh to the Nazi swastika, drawing criticism from activists who accuse the organization of prioritizing pro-Israel advocacy over combating bigotry.
Beth Miller, political director at Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), condemned the ADL’s response. “They have made it clear that they are not a credible source when it comes to fighting anti-Semitism,” she said. “Instead, they focus on silencing critics of Israel.”
For years, the ADL has been a key resource for government agencies and corporations on issues of hate crimes and civil rights. However, Palestinian rights advocates and U.S.-based Muslim groups have long criticized the organization for what they see as a pattern of selectively addressing bigotry, especially when it involves right-wing figures who support Israel.
Musk’s Gesture Draws Widespread Criticism
While addressing the crowd at Capital One Arena, Musk placed his hand on his chest before quickly extending his arm—an action that resembled the Nazi “Sieg Heil” salute. He then turned and repeated the motion.
Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian specializing in fascism, called Musk’s movement a “Nazi salute” and labeled it “belligerent.” Progressive Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also criticized the ADL’s defense of Musk, writing on social media, “Just to be clear, you are defending a ‘Heil Hitler’ salute? People can stop considering you a reputable source now.”
Musk himself dismissed the backlash, calling it a “tired attack” and suggesting that his critics were engaging in “pure propaganda.”
Matan Arad-Neeman of the Jewish progressive group IfNotNow strongly rejected Musk’s defense. “I’m descended from Holocaust survivors, and I know a Nazi salute when I see one,” he told Al Jazeera. He also blasted the ADL for its response, contrasting it with the group’s condemnation of antiwar protesters advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza.
ADL’s Shifting Relationship with Musk
The ADL’s current stance marks a stark reversal from its previous clashes with Musk. Less than two years ago, the billionaire threatened to sue the ADL, accusing it of pressuring advertisers to leave X (formerly Twitter) after he acquired the platform. At the time, the ADL called Musk’s allegations “dangerous and deeply irresponsible,” and critics accused him of invoking anti-Semitic tropes.
Despite this, by October 2023, the ADL softened its approach. Greenblatt even praised Musk as an “amazing entrepreneur and extraordinary innovator,” comparing him favorably to industrialist Henry Ford, despite Ford’s well-documented history of anti-Semitism.
Musk’s alignment with right-wing figures has fueled further criticism. He has expressed support for Germany’s far-right AfD party and British anti-Muslim activist Tommy Robinson. His visit to Israel in late 2023, amid its military campaign in Gaza, reinforced his ties with the country’s leadership.
Accusations of Double Standards
Abed Ayoub, executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), said the ADL’s defense of Musk underscores its selective application of its stated mission. “The ADL has a history of censoring Arab, Palestinian, and Muslim voices while rushing to defend figures like Musk,” he stated.
The ADL has previously opposed the construction of a mosque near the 9/11 site, a stance it later admitted was misguided. More recently, it has labeled pro-Palestinian activists and left-wing Jewish groups as promoters of anti-Semitism, drawing condemnation from progressive circles.
On Tuesday, the Jewish advocacy group Bend the Arc launched a petition demanding the ADL retract its defense of Musk. “The ADL claims to be an expert on anti-Semitism,” the petition read. “Yet when the world’s richest man performed a Nazi salute, they rushed to his defense?”
As criticism mounts, the ADL has yet to respond to requests for comment on the controversy.