Is this how fascism starts? Nerves were already on edge as Donald Trump issued a slew of orders to change the face of America. Now his right-hand man has poured fuel on the fire.
Musk’s Nazi salute leaves many aghast
Arm outstretched: Musk responded to critics on his social media platform X: "Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The 'everyone is Hitler' attack is sooo tired." Glossary
Nazi salute - A gesture in which the right arm is held upwards with the palm down. The gesture was used as a greeting in Nazi Germany.
Elon Musk - A South African-born entrepreneur whose companies have included the online payment service PayPal. He now controls Twitter, renamed 'X'.
anti-semitism - Showing hatred or prejudice towards Jewish people.
Asperger's syndrome - Now considered part of the autism spectrum, Asperger's syndrome is named after Austrian paediatrician Hans Asperger who described some of its characteristics. They include difficulties with social interaction and non-verbal communication.
Populist - The term comes from the People's Party, which operated in the USA in the 1890s. Now, it is often used to refer to any movement that makes a distinction between the "people" and the corrupt "establishment".
Irony - A situation in which the result is opposite to what you might expect.
Provocative - Statements or actions that will cause a strong reaction from those observing.
Far-right - A range of ideologies that emphasise social order, racial purity and the elimination of opponents.
Holocaust - The murder of six million Jewish people in Europe by Nazi Germany. Members of other minority groups were also killed.
Nazi - A German political party of the twentieth century, led by Adolf Hitler. The Nazis controlled Germany from the early 1930s until the end of World War II.
Tommy Robinson - A British far-right activist. He was a founder of the EDL (English Defence League).
Fascist - Following fascism, a set of ideologies that advocates dictatorial power, political violence, suppression of opposition, traditional gender roles, and official racism.