The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has come under fire for defending Elon Musk, the billionaire entrepreneur, after he made a gesture resembling a Nazi salute during an inauguration rally for US President Donald Trump.
Critics argue that the organization, known for its anti-Semitism watchdog role, is compromising its credibility by excusing the act.
The incident occurred at the Capital One Arena, where Musk raised his arm in a manner that drew widespread comparisons to the infamous “Sieg Heil” salute associated with Nazi Germany. The ADL dismissed the gesture as “an awkward expression of enthusiasm,” prompting backlash from various quarters, including progressive Jewish and Palestinian rights groups.
Divisive reactions
Prominent voices, including US Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, criticized the ADL’s defense. “Just to be clear, you are defending a Heil Hitler salute that was performed and repeated for emphasis,” she remarked on social media, calling into question the ADL’s reputation as an authority on anti-Semitism.
Beth Miller, political director at Jewish Voice for Peace, echoed these sentiments. “The ADL is revealing its true priorities. It is more focused on silencing critics of Israel than protecting Jewish communities,” she said.
Similarly, Abed Ayoub, executive director of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, highlighted the ADL’s history of 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’s denial and ADL’s stance
Musk dismissed the accusations, stating, “The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired.” He further mocked the criticism by sharing images of Democratic politicians with similar arm gestures.
The ADL’s swift defense of Musk is seen as a stark contrast to 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.” He juxtaposed the ADL’s response to Musk with its stance on anti-war protests against Israel’s ongoing military actions in Gaza. “Bigots like Musk cannot wave away their anti-Semitism simply by supporting Israel,” Arad-Neeman said.
Long-standing controversies
The ADL has faced criticism in the past for its unwavering support for Israel. In recent years, it has been accused of going soft on right-wing figures accused of bigotry, provided they support pro-Israel policies.
Jonathan Greenblatt, the ADL’s head, previously faced backlash for equating the Palestinian keffiyeh with the Nazi swastika. The organization also admitted it erred in opposing a proposed mosque near the World Trade Center site in 2010, which it had aligned with far-right groups to oppose.
Rising Opposition
A petition initiated by Bend the Arc, a progressive Jewish group, is demanding the ADL 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.
