'Elon Musk did not do those salutes': Trump nominee denies CEO made 'fascist' gestures

Elise Stefanik, President Donald Trump's nominee to be ambassador to the United Nations, denied that billionaire DOGE Chair Elon Musk gave what some media outlets dubbed a "fascist" salute at a rally for the command-in-chief.

PBS News Hour reported that Musk "gave what appeared to be a fascist salute Monday while making a speech at the post-inauguration celebration for President Donald Trump at the Capital One Arena."

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) asked Stefanik about the gesture at Tuesday's confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

"What do you think of Elon Musk, perhaps the president's most visible advisor, doing two Heil Hitler salutes last night at the president's televised rally?" Murphy said.

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"No, Elon Musk did not do those salutes," Stefanik said, appearing to deny reality. "I was not at the rally, but I can tell you I've been at many rallies with Elon Musk, who loves to cheer when President Trump says we need to send our U.S. space program to Mars."

"Elon Musk is a visionary," she continued. "I'm looking forward to his work in DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, and look forward to looking how we can be more efficient and effective."

Murphy offered evidence that Musk had used a fascist hand gesture.

"Evan Kilgore, a right-wing political commentator, wrote on X, 'Holy crap, did Elon Musk just Heil Hitler at the Trump inauguration rally? This is incredible. We are so back,'" the senator remarked. "Andrew Torba, who's the founder of the right-wing Christian nationalist social platform, Gab, said incredible things are happening as he amplified the visual."

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"The Proud Boys chapter in Ohio posted the clip on a telegram channel with the text Heil Trump," he added. "A chapter of the white nationalist group White Lives Matter posted it on Telegram: 'Thanks for hearing us, Elon. The white flame will rise again.'"

Murphy wondered if Stefanik was concerned by the outpouring of support from white supremacists and white nationalists.

"What concerns me is these are the questions you believe are most important to ask to the UN ambassador," the nominee snapped.

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