By Gwurld4026 
Elon Musk Addresses Backlash Over Hand Gesture Remarks
Elon Musk has recently faced criticism for making Nazi-related jokes in response to backlash over a hand gesture he made during President Trump’s inauguration. The gesture, interpreted by some as a Nazi salute, led to widespread controversy. In addressing the criticism, Musk posted a series of puns referencing prominent Nazi figures, including remarks like “Don’t say Hess to Nazi accusations! Some people will Goebbels anything down!”
These jokes have been met with mixed reactions. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) initially defended Musk’s gesture, describing it as an “awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm” rather than a Nazi salute. However, the ADL later condemned Musk’s Nazi-themed jokes as “inappropriate” and “highly offensive.”
Further controversy arose when Jared Ottman, a Tesla manager, claimed he was terminated after criticizing Musk’s Nazi-related jokes. Ottman publicly condemned Musk on LinkedIn for making puns about Nazi figures Heinrich Himmler and Hermann Göring. Despite internal support from colleagues, Ottman stated that Tesla remained silent on the issue, and he was subsequently dismissed.
In a recent interview on Joe Rogan’s podcast, Musk addressed the controversy, stating he is “not a Nazi” and finds the online backlash “pretty stressful.” He clarified that the gesture was not intended as a fascist salute and expressed frustration over the negative attention it garnered.