Is this how fascism starts? Elon Musk's salute to the crowd after Donald Trump was sworn in as US president has sparked a debate on the future of America.
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'.
Donald Trump - An American politician, media personality, and businessman serving as the 47th president of the United States since January 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the 45th president from 2017 to 2021.
President - In some countries, the leader is called the president.
Government - The group of people who govern - or lead - the country.
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.
Adolf Hitler - A dictator, and the leader of Nazi Germany during World War Two.
Jewish - Relating or belonging to the religion of Judaism.
Right-wing - Sometimes referred to as 'conservative', this is a range of political beliefs that emphasise the value of tradition, individual freedom and responsibility, low taxes and a hands-off approach to government.
Boast - Brag. Talk with too much pride about how brilliant you are.
Fascism - A political ideology that rose to power in 20th-Century Europe. It stressed militarism and order over personal freedom, and often divided society according to racial hierarchies.
Far-right - A range of ideologies that emphasise social order, racial purity and the elimination of opponents.