The media is really turning up the dramatics up to eleven as Trump assumes office, and that means attacking anything and everything that so much as twitches in a way they don't like. 

This includes Elon Musk, who, during a speech, proclaimed "My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured."

After some more words, Musk slapped his chest where his heart was and sent it out to the crowd. It should've been a nice moment, but the press immediately seized the moment to proclaim that Musk was doing a Nazi salute. 

PBS released a post on X that said Musk "gave what appeared to be a fascist salute."

Billionaire Elon Musk gave what appeared to be a fascist salute Monday while making a speech at the post-inauguration celebration for President Donald Trump at the Capital One Arena.

“Some elections are important, some are not. But this one, this one really mattered and I just… pic.twitter.com/K8Fo0sdozL

— PBS News (@NewsHour) January 20, 2025

As Nick Arama wrote, the claim was immediately destroyed by X users, who called PBS out for tilting at windmills and demonstrating just how corrupt and ridiculous the media is. Moreover, as Arama pointed out, it's hard to depict this as a pro-Nazi rally when you had the families of Israeli hostages sitting at the rally as celebrated guests. 

(READ: CNN and PBS Help Spread New Hoax Against Elon Musk - It's As Ridiculous As You Would Think)

If the embarrassment of having been dogpiled on by the people for such a ludicrous claim wasn't enough, the media was effecively told by the Anti-Defamation League to calm down: 

This is a delicate moment. It’s a new day and yet so many are on edge. Our politics are inflamed, and social media only adds to the anxiety. 

It seems that @elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge. 

In this moment, all sides should give one another a bit of grace, perhaps even the benefit of the doubt, and take a breath. This is a new beginning. Let’s hope for healing and work toward unity in the months and years ahead.

How embarrassing that the media is even being told by the ADL to calm down over accusing @elonmusk of doing a fascist salute. pic.twitter.com/7Df6qg80GD

— Brandon Morse (@TheBrandonMorse) January 20, 2025

This is a welcome change of pace, as the ADL is typically a very left-leaning organization that's willing to jump on anyone who remotely seems right-leaning. Accusations of antisemitism are a rampant issue with the ADL, who've gone so far as to call for the monitoring of online activity over the "lethal threat of hate-motivated violence." 

It even went so far as to accuse Musk of antisemitic "scapegoating" back in September 2023, which caused Musk to file a defamation lawsuit on them. 

Now, it seems it's warning people away from accusing Musk of doing anything akin to Nazi behavior, and is telling the press to not confuse enthusiastic gestures with fascist symbols.

Quite the turnaround, but one that is definitely welcome. 

The unmitigated drama and fearmongering from the legacy media is beyond tiresome.