Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) was among those who sharply criticized billionaire Elon Musk on Monday for making “what appears to be a Heil Hitler salute” during an event celebrating the inauguration of President Trump.

The Anti-Defamation League, a nonprofit focused on combating antisemitism around the globe, has issued a statement on the “awkward” gesture made by tech billionaire Elon Musk on Monday, which some have dubbed a fascist salute.

Elon Musk responded to criticism of his gesture during a post-inauguration speech on Monday, saying those comparing it to a Nazi salute were deploying "dirty tricks."

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a nonprofit focused on combating antisemitism, defended tech billionaire Elon Musk’s “awkward” gesture during a Monday celebratory event which some critics panned

The incident only lasted seconds, but it sparked what has become a global debate about how to interpret what Musk did. Then Musk started posting Nazi-themed jokes.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Elon Musk is "being falsely smeared" after the tech billionaire was accused of giving two fascist salutes at Donald Trump 's "presidential parade" on Monday.

"It is easy to see that he didn’t," wrote the conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt. "Those asserting that he did are low and absurd people without a shred of credibility."

Elon Musk was visibly bursting with excitement after President Donald Trump’s inauguration. At a celebratory rally on Monday at Capitol One Arena in Washington, he pumped his fist in the air and bellowed a “Yes!

Some across the political spectrum said the gesture looked like a "Heil Hitler" salute. The ADL said it was not.

Bipartisan S. 4127 Antisemitism Awareness Act passed (320-91), as dissenting Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) made clear: “Speech that is critical of Israel alone does not constitute unlawful discrimination. By encompassing purely political speech about Israel into Title VI’s ambit, the bill sweeps too broadly, ” (in an April 30 hearing).

My Chemical Romance guitarist Frank Iero had stronger words for what experts described as a Hitler-esque gesture: "f--k this guy."

An awkward gesture at an inaugural event set off an absurd controversy that speaks volumes about the unwillingness of Trump’s foes to let go of their false accusations.