Since July 4, 2025, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has faced intense scrutiny for actions that have deepened his polarizing public image. His endorsements of far-right figures, including British activist Tommy Robinson and Germany’s Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, have sparked widespread criticism. Robinson’s anti-immigration rhetoric and AfD’s nationalist policies are highly contentious, and Musk’s support, expressed through posts on his X platform, has been accused of amplifying extremist ideologies under the guise of free speech (Smith, 2025). Critics argue this risks normalizing harmful narratives, while supporters see Musk as challenging entrenched political norms (Jones, 2025).

A more explosive controversy emerged from Musk’s alleged Nazi salute at President Donald Trump’s January 2025 inauguration. A viral video of the gesture prompted a YouGov poll, with 49% of Americans believing it was intentional Nazi symbolism (YouGov, 2025). Musk dismissed the accusation as a “dirty trick,” insisting it was a heartfelt gesture, a claim backed by allies like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Musk, 2025). The Anti-Defamation League, initially downplaying the incident, later labeled it “offensive” for potentially normalizing dangerous symbols (ADL, 2025). Historian Johann Chapoutot warned that such actions, intentional or not, could erode public sensitivity to historical atrocities (Chapoutot, 2025). The incident has sharply divided opinion, with detractors branding Musk reckless and supporters decrying a smear campaign.

Adding to the scrutiny, filmmaker Alex Gibney is producing a documentary titled Musk, described as an unfiltered examination of the billionaire’s life. Gibney aims to explore Musk’s technological achievements alongside his controversial public persona (Gibney, 2025). Musk has preemptively called it a “hit piece,” fueling anticipation for its release (Musk, 2025).

Musk’s role as a billionaire with a massive platform amplifies these controversies, shaping political and cultural discourse. His actions raise critical questions about the responsible use of influence in a time of heightened division.

References
Anti-Defamation League. (2025). Statement on Elon Musk’s inauguration gesture. ADL.org.
Chapoutot, J. (2025). Historical implications of symbolic gestures in modern politics. Journal of Contemporary History, 60(3), 45-47.
Gibney, A. (2025). Musk: A documentary in progress. Variety.
Jones, R. (2025). Elon Musk and the free speech debate. Political Review, 12(4), 22-25.
Musk, E. (2025). X posts on controversies. X.com.
Smith, L. (2025). Musk’s far-right affiliations spark backlash. The Guardian.
YouGov. (2025). Public opinion on Musk’s inauguration gesture. YouGov Polls.