Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's son stirred controversy after he appeared to form a hand sign during his father's official swearing-in ceremony that's been linked to white supremacists and nationalists.

Josh Murphy, 20, formed an upside-down "OK" signal with his right hand as the new governor took his oath of office Tuesday in Trenton, N.J.



Three outstretched fingers while the thumb and the index finger form a circle creates the "OK" sign.

The gesture has been innocuously used as part of the Circle Game, popularized by TV show "Malcolm in the Middle," where participants jokingly punch anyone they can trick into looking at the signal.

But the sign has also become common among white nationalists and supremacists, such as Richard Spencer, to symbolize the letters "W" and "P" for "white power."

Despite members of the alt-right adopting the signal, the Anti-Defamation League disputes the argument that the gesture is a hate symbol.

The ADL claims the neo-Nazi connection to the sign is an Internet hoax started by online discussion board 4chan to mock liberals.

Murphy's office declined to provide NJ.com with a comment and did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner's inquiries.

The speculation surrounding Murphy's son follows a former White House intern denying he made the "white power" signal during a photo opportunity with President Trump in December.