Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has been called to account by Downing Street following a gesture he made during a rally for newly inaugurated US President Donald Trump.

The gesture, which Musk executed in the midst of his speech thanking Trump’s supporters, involved a straight-arm extension that observers interpreted as resembling a Nazi salute.

Musk has not directly addressed these accusations but has criticized his detractors on his X social media platform, suggesting that critiques labeling actions as 'Hitler-esque' are overused.

When questioned about the incident, the Prime Minister’s official spokesperson articulated that Mr. Musk should defend his own actions, distancing the UK government from the matter.

The spokesperson highlighted the Prime Minister's previous statements about the importance of acknowledging historical atrocities, referencing the Prime Minister's visit to Auschwitz and upcoming plans for Holocaust Memorial Day.

Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, was also referenced, with the spokesperson noting he would not condone any semblance of a Nazi gesture by his ministers.

The spokesperson reiterated that neither the Prime Minister nor Sir Keir would tolerate such actions by government members.

The query about whether the UK government officially perceives Musk’s gesture as a Nazi salute was deflected, with the spokesperson reiterating that it was for Musk to respond to interpretations of his gesture.

This incident comes amid an already strained relationship between Mr. Musk and Downing Street, with Musk previously critiquing UK officials over issues including the handling of domestic sexual abuse scandals.

In addition to his roles in the private sector, Musk is set to lead a cost-cutting initiative within the Trump administration, reflecting his broader influence on both sides of the Atlantic.