Controversy erupted when the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) defended Elon Musk after he made a gesture resembling a Nazi salute during a rally for US President Donald Trump. The incident, which took place at the Capital One Arena, involved Musk raising his arm in a manner that was widely compared to the infamous “Sieg Heil” salute associated with Nazi Germany.
Critics argue that by excusing the act, the ADL is compromising its credibility as an anti-Semitism watchdog.The ADL dismissed the gesture as “an awkward expression of enthusiasm,” a stance that has triggered backlash from various quarters, including progressive Jewish and Palestinian rights groups. US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez led the criticism, stating on social media, “Just to be clear, you are defending a Heil Hitler salute that was performed and repeated for emphasis,” questioning the ADL’s role as an authority on anti-Semitism.
Other figures, such as Beth Miller, political director at Jewish Voice for Peace, accused the ADL of prioritizing its stance on Israel over the protection of Jewish communities. “The ADL is revealing its true priorities. It is more focused on silencing critics of Israel than protecting Jewish communities,” Miller remarked.
Abed Ayoub, executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, also weighed in, criticizing the ADL for targeting Arab and Muslim voices. “They censor our speech and make life difficult for many Arabs, Palestinians, and their supporters in the US,” he asserted.
Musk, for his part, dismissed the accusations, mocking the criticism by stating, “The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired.” He further mocked his detractors by sharing images of Democratic politicians making similar arm gestures.
The ADL’s swift defense of Musk contrasts with its strong stance against Palestinian rights activists and anti-war protesters. Critics have pointed out that the ADL has labeled expressions of opposition to Zionism and support for Palestinian resistance as anti-Semitic in its annual reports. Matan Arad-Neeman, a spokesperson for the progressive Jewish group IfNotNow, denounced the ADL’s defense as “obscene,” emphasizing that bigotry cannot be excused simply by supporting Israel.
The ADL has faced similar criticism in the past for its unwavering support for Israel, including accusations of going easy on right-wing figures accused of bigotry as long as they support pro-Israel policies. Jonathan Greenblatt, the ADL’s head, previously faced backlash for equating the Palestinian keffiyeh with the Nazi swastika and admitted to errors in opposing a proposed mosque near the World Trade Center site in 2010, when it aligned with far-right groups.
In response to the ADL’s stance, a petition initiated by the progressive Jewish group Bend the Arc demands that the organization retract its defense of Musk. “They are quick to defame pro-Palestinian students and academics but defend Musk’s Nazi-like gesture,” the petition states.
