LONDON — Tech billionaire Elon Musk has come under heavy public criticism in London in recent days . An advertisement at a bus stop in Pollard Row, Bethnal Green, has sparked controversy by showing an image of the SpaceX and Tesla founder making a gesture that some have interpreted as a Nazi salute .

The poster, which bears the slogan “Tesla the Swasticar ,” is a reference to a controversial gesture Musk made during President Donald Trump’s inauguration . The image is accompanied by the phrase: “Go from 0 to 1939 in three seconds ,” a clear allusion to the year World War II began .

This incident is not an isolated one. In January, Musk was accused of making a “Nazi-style” salute during a speech at Trump’s inauguration celebrations. Although the tycoon quickly dismissed the criticism, the gesture has not gone unnoticed by his detractors .

What does the poster show and why has it caused a stir?

The poster, which was put up by an activist group , shows Musk inside a Tesla car with his arm extended at an upward angle, similar to a Nazi salute . The image has been widely circulated on social media, especially on TikTok , where the account “Everyone hates Elon” shared a video of the moment the ad was put up.

The group behind this action, “People vs Elon” , has created a GoFundMe page to raise funds and continue their campaigns against the businessman . On the page, they state:

We are not happy that Elon Musk is fuelling the far right in the US and now doing the same in Europe. We cannot allow the richest man in the world to poison our politics.”

What did Elon Musk say about the alleged Nazi salute?

In January, Musk performed a hand gesture that drew online comparisons to the fascist salute. During a speech, the entrepreneur slapped his chest with his right hand and then extended his arm at an upward angle, palm down and fingers together. Afterward, he declared:

My heart is with you. Thanks to you, the future of civilization is assured.”

Despite the criticism, Musk has not given further explanations about the meaning of the gesture , which has left room for interpretation and speculation.

Previous actions against Musk in Europe

This is not the first time Musk has come under fire in Europe. In January, a British political campaign group projected an image of the businessman making the same gesture at a Tesla factory in Berlin. The projection, created by the Led By Donkeys group together with the Centre for Political Beauty in Germany, included the words “Heil Tesla” and sought to denounce what they see as the misuse of Musk’s wealth to “degrade democracy”.

What’s next in this controversy?

The campaign against Musk appears to be gaining momentum. With funds raised through GoFundMe, activist groups are planning further actions in the British capital and possibly elsewhere in Europe . Meanwhile, the entrepreneur remains a polarising figure, with supporters admiring his technological vision and detractors questioning his political and social influence.

The incident reflects a broader debate about the role of billionaires in politics and society, a topic that is sure to continue to generate discussion in the coming months.