Elon Musk sparks controversy after appearing to make ‘Nazi salute’ at Trump inauguration

The prominent figure has been left under fire

Musk was speaking at the event after Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States of America yesterday afternoon (20 January).

The Space X and Tesla owner thanked the crowd for "making it happen", before enthusiastically placing his right and over his hear and flinging his same arm into the air straight in front of him.

The gesture was disturbingly similar to a Sieg Heil that was used as a greeting or salute in Nazi Germany.

The action came as he said: "My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilisation is assured."

Many took to Elon Musk's social media platform to debate the meaning behind the gesture.

Users slammed the billionaire for performing the action while other argued it was merely a misinterpretation.

The re-enactment of the Sieg Heil is illegal in some countries such is its connotations, with Germany, Austria and Slovakia all outlawing the salute.

Musk has had a large involvement in Donald Trump's push for a second term as US President, publicly backing the Republican.

His support was rewarded too, as Trump declared Musk would become lead on a new department to be known as the Department of Government Efficiency (DoGE).