Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has come to the defense of Elon Musk after the billionaire and owner of X, faced accusations of making a Nazi salute.

In a post on X, Netanyahu wrote, “Elon is being falsely smeared. He is a great friend of Israel.

“He visited Israel after the October 7 massacre and has since repeatedly and forcefully supported Israel’s right to defend itself against genocidal terrorists and regimes who seek to annihilate the one and only Jewish state. I thank him for this.”

Musk came under fire following an appearance at US President Donald Trump’s inaugural parade in Washington on Monday.

During the event, Musk made a straight-armed gesture that some interpreted as a Nazi salute.

However, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) dismissed the accusations, calling it an “awkward gesture” rather than an intentional salute.

Musk has previously drawn criticism for sharing white supremacist memes and conspiracy theories on X, fueling accusations of antisemitism.

Despite this, Netanyahu stated Musk’s continued support for Israel, citing the tech mogul’s visit to the country and his outspoken condemnation of terrorism.

The incident points out Musk’s polarizing public image, as he remains both a prominent supporter of conservative political figures and a divisive figure in global discourse.