Students Hang Musk Puppet Upside Down in Mussolini Square Amid Controversy

Milan: Left-wing Italian university students on Tuesday drew attention by hanging a mannequin of Elon Musk upside down in Piazzale Loreto, the notorious Milan square where Benito Mussolini’s body was similarly desecrated in 1945. This act comes amid a heated dispute over an alleged Fascist salute made by the world’s richest man at the inauguration of President Donald Trump on Monday.

According to Ansa News Agency, Musk, the CEO of Tesla, X, and SpaceX, is set to co-run a new government efficiency department under Trump. He was seen making two stiff-armed salutes at the Capitol Arena following Trump’s inaugural address for his second term. These gestures have ignited widespread criticism, with many interpreting them as Fascist salutes.

In response to the backlash, Musk dismissed the accusations, stating, “frankly they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is soo tired.” Despite his denial, the controversy has continued to simmer, leading to protest actions such as the hanging of the mannequin.

The student collective ‘Cambiare rotta’ (Change Course) took credit for the protest on social media. They posted a message directed at Musk, saying, “There’s always room in Piazzale Loreto, Elon…” The mannequin, created with a sack and featuring a paper cut-out of Musk’s face, was prominently displayed upside down on a gate in the square.