On October 28, business mogul Elon Musk was seen at a rally supporting Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, donning a ‘Make America Great Again’ hat that has ignited debate over its font, which some claim resembles Nazi symbolism, according to FastCompany Magazine.
The hat featured the MAGA slogan in jagged, gothic-like letters, leading to speculation on social media that it employed a font known as Fraktur—a style historically associated with Nazi Germany. The Fraktur font appeared in Nazi propaganda and was used in Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf”. Florian Hardwig, managing editor of the Fonts In Use typography archive, noted that the Nazis later rejected the font, as it was rumored to have been created by a Jewish person. Nevertheless, Fraktur remains a potent symbol of Nazi ideology.
While some calligraphy and typography experts dispute the use of Fraktur in Musk’s hat, the resemblance to blackletter fonts has drawn significant attention and shock. Critics have questioned Musk’s motives for wearing such a provocative accessory, while others consider it another stunt aimed at provoking reactions. Hardwig stated, “Choosing such a style for an application outside specific fields such as newspaper mastheads or beer logos is typically done for the sake of provocation.”
The rally at Madison Square Garden also drew parallels to a 1939 event organized by the pro-Hitler German American Bund, further intensifying the controversy surrounding Musk’s appearance.
