A gesture associated with the Nazis has a surprising history. But in Germany, there was little doubt about its meaning.

After facing backlash for gestures at Trump’s inauguration event and attempts to make Nazi-related puns on X, Elon Musk told supporters of Germany’s far-right AfD party there is “too much of a focus on past guilt.

The Roman salute is conditionally allowed in Italy and outright banned in Germany. German chancellor Olaf Scholz responded to Musk's gesture by saying, "We have the freedom of speech in Europe and in Germany," he said, "what we do not accept is if this is supporting extreme right positions."