Americanswers! Did Elon Musk make a Nazi salute?

Jan 23, 2025

Donald Trump's controversial immigration policies come under scrutiny, especially regarding troop deployments at the border. He defends a recent pardon for the Silk Road founder amidst questions about his views on the January 6 events. Meanwhile, Elon Musk's alleged Nazi salute sparks a fierce debate, with Musk dismissing the accusations as tired tricks. There's a deep dive into the intersection of political dynamics and technology, revealing the complexities in today's media landscape.

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ANECDOTE

Trump on Biden Pardons

In a Fox News interview, Donald Trump suggested Joe Biden should have pardoned himself.
Trump noted that Biden pardoned family members, making them legally obligated to testify, potentially against Biden himself.

ANECDOTE

Jan 6 Pardons and Trump's Comments

Donald Trump pardoned numerous January 6th rioters, a controversial move.
He downplayed the events, calling them "very minor incidents," despite extensive evidence of violence against law enforcement.

ANECDOTE

Ulbricht Pardon

Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road dark web drug market, was pardoned by Trump.
This followed intense lobbying from libertarians and the Bitcoin community who saw Ulbricht as a martyr.

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After he declared that "America's sovereignty is under attack” in an executive order, reports suggest that Donald Trump could send thousands of troops to install barriers at the US border with Mexico. Are barriers the answer to stop illegal crossings?

President Trump has given his first broadcast interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News. In the interview he described the attacks on January 6 as “very minor incidents” and suggested Joe Biden should have pardoned himself before leaving office. But why has Trump issued a pardon to the founder of an illegal online drug marketplace?

And, Elon Musk’s controversial arm gesture continues to divide opinions as to its meaning. Some have insisted it was a Nazi salute, while Musk has said the comparisons to Hitler were “tired” and “dirty tricks”.

Americanswers is back for a special Q&A at the end of a momentous week…

HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent

This episode was made by George Dabby with Rufus Gray and Claire Betzer. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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