Elon Musk Laughs Off 'Nazi Salute' Backlash With Series of Jokes: 'Bet You Did Nazi That Coming'

Tech billionaire Elon Musk has responded to recent backlash over accusations that he made a Nazi salute by posting a string of Nazi puns.

During President Donald Trump's inauguration Monday, Musk repeatedly made a hand gesture similar to the infamous Nazi salute. Supporters of the Tesla and Space X mogul have offered alternative explanations, arguing he was sending his heart out to the audience, or calling it "an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm," as the Anti-Defamation League described it.

Musk called the allegations "sooo tired," on X Monday, and tweeted out a series of puns using the names of prominent Nazis Thursday:

"Don't say Hess to Nazi accusations!
Some people will Goebbels anything down!
Stop Gőring your enemies!
His pronouns would've been He/Himmler!
Bet you did nazi that coming 😂."

The four Nazis referenced by Musk committed crimes against humanity and the systematic murder of millions of Jews. Rudolf Hess was Deputy Führer to Adolf Hitler. Paul Joseph Goebbels, Reich Minister of Propaganda, advocated for exterminating Jewish people in the Holocaust. Hermann Wilhelm Göring was instrumental in creating the Gestapo and at one point was designated by Hitler as his successor. Known as a primary architect of the Holocaust, Henrich Luitpold Himmler oversaw concentration and extermination camps as well as death squads. While Göring and Himmler could not be tried in the Nuremberg trials due to suicides, Goebbels was sentenced to death and Hess to life in prison.

The post has drawn a mix of reactions. Some praised Musk's humor, with some commenters adding puns of their own. "Eva Braun to Germany?" the reply read, referencing Hitler's wife, Eva Braun. "Humor is the fascist way to defeat these people!" another said. One user utilized X's AI system, Grok, to generate an image of a cartoon Hitler with text of Musk's jokes.

Amidst fans of Musk's irreverence were many who questioned the motivation and taste behind the post.

Regardless of the divided opinions, Musk has once again demonstrated his knack for staying in the spotlight.