Soldiers salute to the American flag as a sign of respect and honor, neighbors salute to their friends as a greeting and Elon Musk saluted to fascism and Nazism at President Donald Trump’s inaugural celebration. 

On Jan. 20, Musk, the head of the newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), stretched his arm into the air with his palm facing down—twice. This is the same gesture that was abused by Nazis during World War II, becoming the most common signal of white supremacy. The Nazi salute is illegal in Germany, being grounds for detainment, for its horrifying history directly associated with the Holocaust genocides and the deaths of millions of people. And now, this dismaying display sets the stage for an oncoming dictatorship, as Trump’s unearthly executive orders begin to pile up and are made public.

Since the inauguration, Trump has already signed several executive orders that are set to send tsunami-sized ripples throughout America. These orders begin with the withdrawal of the country from the World Health Organization, the repeal of birthright citizenship, mass deportations of unsanctioned immigrants accused of crimes and the creation of the DOGE. A president is supposed to act in the country’s best interests, yet we are witnessing the beginning of our democracy’s downfall—and it’s only been a few days since Trump’s return to office. There’s no telling what’s to come in a couple of months or years, and a lot can happen in a small amount of time. After all, Adolf Hitler became dictator of Germany only 53 days after being elected chancellor through the Enabling Act of 1933. 

Now, the DOGE raises questions about its success and those involved. How will Musk—with a net worth of nearly half a trillion dollars—see what’s useful and what’s not to the common American? Should we be so quick to allow the billionaires of the world to influence governments instead of those with years of experience and education to do so? It seems like the wrong people are involved in the current government. 

Trump stated that there won’t be a sticker price for his deportation plan, and his policy is already estimated to cost more than $88 billion; with the addition of border enforcements, that will amp up costs to roughly $100 billion. With that sum, medical debt in America could be eradicated completely, as a report in 2022 confirmed that $88 billion are found on Americans’ credit reports. That doesn’t seem to be a priority in Trump’s extensive agenda, though. Instead, it is being utilized for the deportation of unauthorized immigrants seeking a more promising future in the land of the free—or is it?