Elon Musk has entered a fresh debate over how the word 'Nazi' is used in political arguments, arguing that applying the label to people over ordinary political disagreements can diminish the historical meaning of the term.
Musk made the comment on X after responding to a post by user Captain Eli, who said the word was increasingly being used as a general insult against political opponents. Musk said calling someone a Nazi 'simply for centrist views' insults people who suffered and died under the Nazi regime.
He also said people who misuse the term should be condemned. The comment recalls a controversy involving Musk in January 2025 after a gesture at a Trump inauguration event was compared by some observers to a Nazi salute, while others, including the Anti-Defamation League, rejected that interpretation.
Elon Musk Defends Historical Meaning of 'Nazi'
Captain Eli's post began by saying, 'I'm Jewish. Large parts of the left still call me a Nazi.' The post listed political positions that its author said could lead to people being labelled Nazis, including supporting border controls and recognising biological sex.
The post argued that the term had become detached from its historical meaning and was being used to describe people simply because they opposed a particular political position. It also contrasted modern political arguments with the crimes committed under Nazi Germany.
Musk agreed with the central argument about the use of the label. In his response, he wrote: 'Calling someone a Nazi simply for centrist views is an insult to those who suffered and died under the actual Nazis. Those who abuse the term should themselves be condemned!'
Calling someone a Nazi simply for centrist views is an insult to those who suffered and died under the actual Nazis.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 7, 2026
Those who abuse the term should themselves be condemned!
The wording is important because Musk was not making a general claim that the term can never be used in relation to modern political movements. His comment specifically referred to calling someone a Nazi 'simply for centrist views'.
The exchange therefore centred on what Musk described as inappropriate use of the label rather than establishing a general rule about when the term can or cannot be applied.
The discussion concerned the use of historical labels to describe contemporary figures and movements on social media. Musk's response has highlighted the distinction between criticism of modern political behaviour and comparisons with the ideology and actions of Nazi Germany.
Elon Musk's 'Nazi Salute' Controversy
During a January 2025 event celebrating Donald Trump's inauguration, Musk placed his right hand against his chest before extending his right arm outward and upward towards the audience. He made a similar movement again while addressing another part of the crowd.
The gesture was quickly compared with a Nazi salute by critics, including historians and political figures. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian of fascism at New York University, described it as a Nazi salute, while other commentators disputed that interpretation.
Musk dismissed the criticism as a 'tired' attack and said his critics needed 'better dirty tricks'. He disputed the characterisation of his gestures as Nazi salutes.
The Anti-Defamation League took a different position from some of Musk's critics. The organisation said Musk appeared to have made an 'awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute', while acknowledging the sensitivity surrounding the issue.
Reactions elsewhere were less forgiving. The gesture prompted criticism in Europe, including discussion in Germany, where Nazi symbols and gestures carry particular historical and legal sensitivity.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also criticised Musk's support for extreme-right positions when asked about the incident.
Scholz said freedom of speech was protected but that supporting extreme-right positions was not acceptable. He did not directly classify Musk's gesture as a Nazi salute.
The episode remains disputed, with historians, political figures and other commentators offering different interpretations of Musk's movement, while the ADL said it was not a Nazi salute.
