During a CPAC speech, Steve Bannon concluded his remarks advocating for a third Trump term with a raised-arm gesture that prompted accusations of a Nazi salute. Critics compared the action to a similar gesture made by Elon Musk, prompting debate on social media regarding its intent. While some defended it as a Roman salute or a misunderstood gesture, others condemned it as an overt display of Nazi symbolism. Bannon has yet to respond to the allegations.
Elon Musk’s seemingly innocuous gesture at a Trump rally—a salute resembling a Roman salute—has been enthusiastically embraced by right-wing extremists, white nationalists, and neo-Nazis online. Several prominent figures within these groups shared clips of the gesture, interpreting it as a sign of support. While alternative explanations exist, Musk’s past actions, including reinstating banned accounts on X and his associations with far-right groups, fuel concerns about his tacit endorsement of these ideologies. The incident highlights the concerning intersection of Musk’s influence and the far-right’s online mobilization.
John Q. Hosedrinker