Elon Musk considers suing Gov. Tim Walz over Nazi salute accusation

Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News on Jan 29, 2025

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Elon Musk is mulling legal action against “creepy” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz for suggesting he performed the Nazi salute during his speech after President Donald Trump’s inauguration earlier this month.

Now a fixture in Trump’s inner circle, Musk took to the stage at Capitol One Arena on Jan. 20, delivering an address to ecstatic MAGA supporters before thumping his heart with his right hand, and then extending it out in front of him.

“My heart goes out to you,” he said during a dinner held after the ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Since then, Musk’s gestures have gone viral, almost immediately sparking scrutiny and debates, with critics comparing them to the victory salute used in Nazi Germany called the “Sieg Heil.” On Tuesday night, Walz joined those condemning the Tesla founder during an appearance on MSNBC, arguing that there’s nothing unclear or vague about what occurred onstage.

“We spent three days debating, or trying to debate that ‘President Musk’ gave a Nazi salute. Of course he did,” said Walz, who ran alongside Vice President Kamala Harris in her failed bid for the White House.

A clip featuring the soundbite has been widely shared across social media since it aired, including on X, which is owned by Musk.

“Creepy Tim Walz says ‘of course’ Elon did a Nazi salute,” one X user wrote. “I hope Elon sues him for all he’s worth.”

The MAGA billionaire responded to the post early Wednesday: “I think I will,” he said. He also seemingly agreed with the netizen’s assessment of Walz, and went on to similarly call him a “creepy” clown by way of emoji.

Musk also got some support from his mother, Maye Musk, who suggested he take it a step further and sue several media outlets, including CNN and PBS NewsHour.

The SpaceX founder, who is also an advisor to Trump, has otherwise appeared mostly unbothered by the controversy swirling around his post-Inauguration address. Amid the backlash, he shared a series of jokes on X, each of them seemingly featuring a Nazi pun.

“Some people will Goebbels anything down!” he joked, referencing Joseph Goebbels, the Nazi propaganda minister.

Another read: “Bet you did nazi that coming.”