"the Nazi flailing by Elon was indeed poor signaling."

Very very poor signaling indeed!
Here's NY Cong. Jerry Nadler(who's Jewish) response:
"I never imagined we would see the day when what appears to be a Heil Hitler salute would be made behind the Presidential seal. The abhorrent gesture has no place in our society and belongs in the darkest chapters of human history.
I urge all of my colleagues to unite in condemning this hateful gesture for what it is: antisemitism."
[1.20]

And to put Musk's salute in context. Today, as we speak, Elon Musk is the biggest & wealthiest supporter of Alice Weidel, the leader of Germany's far-right party: the AFD/Germany's Alternative Fur Deutschland, labeled a neo-Nazi party.
So Elon's salute is no accident or "awkward gesture".