‘Nazi salute’ was ‘attempt at humor and parody’, ESI CEO says
A video circulating showing the CEO and Co-owner of Boise construction firm Engineered Structures Inc. raising his arm into the air in a manner that is being compared to a Nazi salute quickly caught wide attention Friday. The video appeared on the social media site Reddit under the title “President (?) of ESI Construction in Boise does Nazi salute at company conference.”
In the video, Tom Hill is shown on a Boise stage in front of a display showing President Donald Trump shortly after his inauguration. In the video, which BoiseDev has verified is authentic, Hill taps his right hand on his heart twice, then points it aloft in an angular motion, then repeats the gesture.
Portions of the hand movement mimic a gesture once used to salute Adolph Hitler. The United States Holocaust Museum said the so-called “German Gesture,” and said the Nazi party adopted it and became a mandatory salute in many situations. The museum said the salute was meant to “show mass support for the fuhrer.”
In a statement to BoiseDev, Hill said the moment, which occurred during this week’s “State of the Company” event at Boise Centre, was meant as a humorous one. He said he shared the message with BoiseDev along with his “sincere apology.”
“Unfortunately, my recent attempt at humor and parody fell short and is being used by others to
unfairly judge me and, more importantly, our amazing company and its people,” Hill wrote. “At the beginning of our annual State of the Company event, I briefly commented on the election and, as part of a political skit, mimicked Elon Musk and President Trump’s signature dancing.”
While SpaceX CEO Elon Musk made a somewhat similar gesture during an event around Trump’s inauguration, BoiseDev could find no record of Trump making such an arm movement. Musk brushed off the criticism, according to the BBC.
“I did so as a commentary on the craziness of our political environment and nothing more,” Hill wrote. “Without a doubt, I unequivocally reject any association with hate groups and/or hate toward any group of people. I sincerely regret that my actions offended anyone or could be taken so out of context.”
Hill also told BoiseDev that he is “not a hater.”
“I’m a Christian, a Republican, a patriot, a successful businessman, a son, a brother, a husband, and a father,” he wrote. “I’ve learned today that some people will hate me for the first three or four things on that list. They can hate me if they wish, it’s their right, but I wish they would be honest about why they choose to hate me.”
ESI is one of Idaho’s largest construction firms. It has done work for a lage number of companies, in the private and government sectors. Projects listed on its website include high-profile work for Boise State University, St. Luke’s, and the Idaho Transportation Department.
Hill is listed as a co-owner on the firm’s documents filed with the Idaho Secretary of State.
Each day, Gretchen Parsons gets the day started with a 5-minute pulse on the day.
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Idaho construction CEO apologizes after apparent ‘Nazi salute’ at company event
BOISE, Idaho — The CEO of an Idaho construction company has come under fire on social media after being captured on video performing an apparent “Nazi salute” during a private company event Thursday night.
Multiple videos sent to KTVB show Thomas Hill, chief executive officer of Engineered Structures, Inc. (ESI), making the gesture at the company’s annual State of the Company gathering at the Boise Centre.
In an emailed statement Friday, Hill characterized his actions as a failed attempt at political parody.
“Unfortunately, my recent attempt at humor and parody fell short and is being used by others to unfairly judge me and, more importantly, our amazing company and its people. At the beginning of our annual State of the Company event, I briefly commented on the election and, as part of a political skit, mimicked Elon Musk and President Trump’s signature dancing. I did so as a commentary on the craziness of our political environment and nothing more. Without a doubt, I unequivocally reject any association with hate groups andlor hate toward any group of people. I sincerely regret that my actions offended anyone or could be taken so out of context.”
ESI is a prominent private construction company based in Meridian.
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Boise, ID (CBS2) — ESI’s Chief Executive Officer, Thomas D. Hill, has issued a written apology following backlash over a skit performed at the company’s annual State of the Company event. The skit, intended as humor, has sparked controversy on social media.
“Unfortunately, my recent attempt at humor and parody fell short and is being used by others to unfairly judge me and, more importantly, our amazing company and its people,” Hill said.
During the event, Hill briefly commented on the election and, as part of a political skit, mimicked Elon Musk and former President Donald Trump’s signature dancing. Hill explained that the skit was meant as a commentary on the current political climate.
“I did so as a commentary on the craziness of our political environment and nothing more,” Hill said. “Without a doubt, I unequivocally reject any association with hate groups and/or hate towards any group of people.”
Hill expressed regret for any offense caused by his actions. “I sincerely regret that my actions offended anyone or could be taken so out of context,” he said.
ESI emphasized that it does not condone hate in any form.
