ADL condemns Musk's Nazi "jokes" after salute controversy
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The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) condemned Elon Musk for making a series of Nazi-related jokes on X, calling it "inappropriate and offensive to make light" of the "singularly evil" Holocaust.
Why it matters: Just days earlier, the ADL had defended Musk over an awkward hand gesture he made during an inauguration event that drew comparisons to a Nazi salute — saying "all sides should give one another a bit of grace."
- "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 ADL, an organization dedicated to fighting antisemitism, wrote on X.
- "It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge."
In the days since, Musk has mocked media outlets and liberals who fanned the controversy, accusing them of a "dirty tricks" campaign to smear him over his support for Trump.
- On Thursday morning, Musk rattled off a series of puns referencing prominent Nazis like chief propagandist Joseph Goebbels and Heinrich Himmler.
- "Bet you did nazi that coming," Musk wrote on X along with a laughing emoji.
What they're saying: "Making inappropriate and highly offensive jokes that trivialize the Holocaust only serve to minimize the evil and inhumanity of Nazi crimes, denigrate the suffering of both victims and survivors and insult the memory of the six million Jews murdered in the Shoah," the ADL said in a statement.
Flashback: Almost exactly one year ago to the day, Musk visited the former Nazi concentration camp in Auschwitz, Poland, as part of an apology tour for endorsing an antisemitic post on X.
- Musk later said "it might be literally the worst and dumbest post I've ever done."
