"Friend of Israel"

Netanyahu defends Musk after controversial gesture

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not joining the outrage over Elon Musk's appearance on Donald Trump's inauguration day.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/APA/AFP/ANGELA WEISS, AFP/POOL/NIR ELIAS)

Despite the fact that Tesla boss Elon Musk is being celebrated in far-right and neo-Nazi circles after his controversial gesture on Donald Trump's inauguration day (see video above), Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is rushing to his aid. He is being unjustly slandered, the head of government emphasized on Thursday on the short message platform X.

"Elon is a great friend of Israel." Musk visited Israel after the Hamas massacre on October 7, 2023, Netanyahu recalled. "Since then, he has repeatedly and vigorously supported Israel's right to defend itself against genocidal terrorists and regimes that seek to destroy the only Jewish state. I thank him for this," Netanyahu continued.

Netanyahu did not explicitly mention Musk's controversial gesture during a speech after the inauguration of the new US President Donald Trump on Monday. However, his statement was made in response to a comment by the tech billionaire himself. He had written on his online platform X: "The radical left are really upset that despite their busy day praising Hamas, they had to take the time to call me a Nazi."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not join the great outrage over Elon Musk's appearance on Donald Trump's inauguration day.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/APA/AFP/ANGELA WEISS, AFP/POOL/NIR ELIAS)

Milei speaks of an "innocent gesture"
Argentina's President Javier Milei struck a similar note on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, describing Musk as his "dear friend". He was being unfairly denigrated for an "innocent gesture". The tech billionaire had merely wanted to "express his gratitude to the people". 

Musk had spoken to Trump's supporters in the Capitol One Arena in Washington D.C. on Monday. He first slapped his heart with his right hand and then stretched out his right arm. He thanked Trump supporters for their contribution to the Republican's election victory: "Thank you for making this possible. My heart beats for you."

Argentina's President Javier Milei also defended Elon Musk.(Bild: APA/AFP/MANDEL NGAN)

The tech billionaire was heavily criticized in online networks for his outstretched right arm. However, there was controversy among experts as to whether it was a deliberate fascist gesture. Musk rejected the criticism on X: his opponents needed "better dirty tricks", he wrote.