Steve Bannon, former chief strategist for Donald Trump, has found himself at the center of controversy after a gesture he made during a speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland was perceived by some as a Nazi salute. Bannon, addressing the crowd, raised his right arm with a flat palm while urging attendees to "fight, fight, fight." This action quickly drew criticism due to its resemblance to a salute associated with the Nazi regime.
Following the backlash, Bannon defended his actions, insisting to reporters that the gesture was merely a wave, a common way he thanks audiences at the end of his speeches. "I do it all the time," he stated, attempting to dismiss the interpretation of his gesture as anything more sinister.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a prominent organization that monitors antisemitism and extremism, responded to the incident by highlighting Bannon’s history of promoting hate and extremism. The ADL expressed concern over the normalization of such behavior in political discourse, stating, "Steve Bannon’s long and disturbing history of stoking antisemitism and hate, threatening violence, and empowering extremists is well known and well documented."
The incident also prompted a reaction from French far-right leader Jordan Bardella, who canceled his scheduled speech at CPAC in response to Bannon’s gesture, labeling it as a reference to Nazi ideology. Bannon did not hold back in his criticism of Bardella, calling him "unworthy to lead France."
This controversy echoes a recent incident involving Elon Musk, who faced scrutiny for a hand gesture made during a speech at a Washington DC event celebrating Trump’s inauguration. Although some observers found Musk’s gesture awkward, the ADL concluded that it did not constitute a Nazi salute.
As political tensions rise, these incidents highlight the ongoing struggle within conservative circles over the boundaries of acceptable rhetoric and gestures, as well as the potential implications for political figures who engage in or are associated with such actions.