Stephen K. Bannon’s raised-arm salute sparked controversy on Friday, drawing comparisons to a Nazi salute. This gesture, similar to one made by Elon Musk, occurred at a time when the Trump administration is being criticized for aligning with far-right movements globally.
Amidst these actions, the White House has been reaching out to Alternative for Germany (AfD), a right-wing German party with ties to Nazi ideologies.
Jordan Bardella of France’s National Rally denounced Bannon’s gesture, leading to him pulling out of the Conservative Political Action Conference. This comes as Trump continues to support far-right movements around the world.
Bannon defended his gesture, stating it was a salute to the MAGA movement. It echoed Musk’s similar salute at Trump’s inauguration rally.
Bardella’s decision to withdraw from CPAC underscored tensions within the far-right movement, especially in Europe where associations with Nazism are frowned upon.
While Germany’s AfD welcomed support from Musk and Vance, Bardella’s party faced backlash for aligning with Trump’s allies.
Giorgia Meloni, set to speak at CPAC, faced criticism over Bannon’s salute. Despite calls for her to withdraw, Meloni’s camp stated she would proceed with her appearance.
Other CPAC speakers, like Eduardo Verástegui, also made gestures resembling Bannon’s salute, further fueling controversy at the event.
Emma Bubola contributed reporting.