Gov. JB Pritzker blasts Elon Musk's straight-arm salute and predicts that under Trump, antisemitism will rise

WASHINGTON — Gov. JB Pritzker and I talked a few hours after President Donald Trump was inaugurated on Monday about how, among other things, he will take a lead in opposing the president’s policies; how he has Republican back channels to help him navigate, when needed, the Trump world; and why Elon Musk’s Nazi-like salute comes at a time when antisemitism will likely rise.

Pritzker on antisemitism and Elon Musk

Trump has embraced and empowered Musk, the world’s richest man, who is an enormously influential member of Trump’s inner circle. What Musk does matters.

At an inauguration rally on Monday at the Capital One Arena, an exuberant Musk delivered what could easily be construed as a "Sieg heil!" salute in celebrating Trump’s election.

Dictionary.com defines a "sieg heil" salute as a “victory salute used originally by Nazis at political rallies.”

Musk told the crowd Trump’s election “really, really matters, and I just want to say thank you for making it happen. Thank you.” And with that Musk thumped his heart with his right hand and then, straight-armed, thrust it in the air. He did it twice.

Let’s say Musk didn’t know how that salute was associated with Nazis.

Now Musk knows — and Trump’s team could realize as well — that’s how some people took it. It’s all over social media.

The backlash prompted Musk, the owner of “X,” to post on his site this diversionary pivot: “Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The 'everyone is Hitler' attack is (so) tired.”

With antisemitism on the rise, I asked Pritzker to gauge if under Trump, antisemitism would be up, down or the same.

“Well, if his first term is any indication .....this is going to be even worse than ever before,” Pritzker said. Trump “foments it, you know, in so many ways, animosity between groups. He loves to foment…This is a president that's all about chaos. He thrives on chaos.” And “when you throw rhetoric out there, and condone, things like, you know, Musk’s sieg heil from today, you know, it's, it just is, is unfortunately taking us backward.”

A short time after we talked, Pritzker, about a video of Musk’s salute, said on X, “in this moment when antisemitism has reached a new high, this is outrageous behavior. At a presidential rally no less. Donald Trump should condemn it. And Elon Musk owes our country an apology.”

In Trump II, Illinois to be the Trump alternative universe

Pritzker and California Gov. Gavin Newsom have been the Democratic blue state governors who have championed progressive policies and politics — on immigration, climate, environment justice, abortion rights, health care — and more. They both have been mentioned as potential 2028 presidential contenders. The devastating Los Angeles fires — and the giant job of rebuilding the ruins — for now will sideline Newsom's national ambitions.

That leaves Pritzker and his supermajority House and Senate in Springfield in position to showcase his Illinois vision on the national stage as Trump and his GOP Congress rapidly void as many Biden-era programs as they can.

“I'm unafraid of this administration,” Pritzker said, heading into a time to be “so terribly challenging for ordinary Americans, for working families. And it's going to be a challenge to make sure that we're protecting our people, but I am personally unafraid to stand up and do the right thing, and I hope that people across the country will join me in that. I think we have, we have so much progress that we can make if we stand together" as "Illinois is going to continue to be a beacon of policies that are antithetical to the retrograde policies of a Trump administration.”

Pritzker’s GOP back channels

Pritzker blistered Trump in his first run for governor. Still, Trump welcomed him into his White House. That was then. There’s no relationship now. Pritzker is a realist. A governor needs to be able to get through to the president. I asked Pritzker — what’s his plan?

“It's hard to fathom that you have to ask a question like that. You know, the president of the United States, no matter whether a governor supported him or didn't support him, is in office to serve all the people of the country.

“And yet we both know that this is a president who only serves what he thinks are in his peculiar interests, whatever it is that he thinks is best for him.”

Pritzker told me when it comes to Trump, “I can tell you that I'm open to conversation.” And what does he do in the meantime?

Said Pritzker, “I know lots of people who supported him. Certainly, there are people in Illinois who want to do what's best for Illinois — always able to call them and will, as there are things that need to get done.”