Summary
Vivian Jenna Wilson, Elon Musk’s daughter, accused her father of giving a “definitely Nazi salute” at two rallies in January, calling his actions “fucking cringe.”
In an interview with Teen Vogue, she criticized Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration and advocated for trans rights, emphasizing the importance of gender-affirming care for minors.
Wilson, who transitioned as a teen, described Musk as cold and absent, and revealed she no longer associates with him or his family.
She also expressed fear over anti-trans legislation under Trump’s administration.
You may not be aware, but Nazis (both traditional and the neo variant) love dog whistles.
Obscure and hidden symbolism is core to their ideologies.
Nazis (and most hate groups in general) love doing things that are just innocent enough, but with a wink or a nudge, demonstrate clear intention.
It’s quite easy to not do a nazi salute and when public speaking, politicians (and people who practice their public speaking skills in general) have traditionally been coached on what features may be construed as, just look at the traditional ‘non-threatening’ two finger point.
Finally, I don’t think it really matters what it technically was or wasn’t, what matters is perception and reception.
Edit: I want to add some concrete examples of nazi dog whistling and symbolism.
Historically the numbers 88 have been used by neo Nazis to represent HH (8th letter of the alphabet) as a disguised way to say ‘heil Hitler’
The numbers on their own don’t mean anything, but given additional context, behaviors, or related ideals, then an additional meaning can be found.
This is often used as an intentional way to inform sympathizers to your position that you are on their side (for example a group at a political gathering) without overtly communicating your position to those opposed.
Another example is skinheads (not sharps) wearing and lacing their boots in a certain way with specific color laces.
Hitler himself was immensely into the occult and found hidden symbolism to be very powerful, it’s part of why he repurposed so much religious iconography.
Yeah, I understand that. And I’ve spent some time online talking with neo Nazis, and I know how they act. I just don’t think he actually is. Conservative, yeah, but not a Nazi.
Yeah, because if he’s indeed a nazi, he’s pretty incompetent at converting people into nazism. Some politicians such as Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris have done a hand gesture that resembles the nazi salute in their political rallies, but nobody at the time screamed they were dog whistling nazi symbology. Raising one’s hand to salute the audience is just a natural gesture, not some intricate gesture that’s exclusive to a bonafide nazi apologist.
