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

Musk then slapped his chest with his right hand, before flinging it diagonally upwards, palm face down. He turned around to audience members behind the podium, and repeated the gesture. “My heart goes out to you,

Yolanda Díaz, the minister of labor and social economy from the left-wing Sumar party, said: “Last night, the whole planet could see Elon Musk emulating the Nazi salute in the context of Donald Trump’s inauguration. It has been a very harsh image that has made me make a decision that I have been meditating on for several months.”