Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon ignited a firestorm of debate during his appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) after raising his arm in a gesture that some attendees and online critics labeled a “Nazi salute.” The incident, which occurred during a fiery speech railing against the political establishment, has drawn sharp reactions from both supporters and detractors. The clip went viral as Elon Musk was recently embroiled in a similar row though Musk aides said it was a ‘heart goes out’ gesture.
Bannon, known for his provocative rhetoric and unapologetic style, was addressing a packed crowd of conservative activists when he extended his right arm upward in what appeared to be a pointed gesture. Video footage of the moment quickly spread across social media, with critics accusing the far-right figure of deliberately mimicking the infamous salute associated with Adolf Hitler’s regime. “The only way that they win is we retreat. And we are not going to retreat, we are not going to surrender. We are not going to quit. Fight Fight. Fight,” he said and extended his right hand.
Supporters, however, dismissed the accusations as overblown, arguing that Bannon’s gesture was simply an emphatic wave or a call to action, not a nod to extremist ideology. “A salute is a very deliberate act to the front. Whatever this is, it is not a Nazi salute. He could have seen someone, he could have started to wave and went back to the mic, he could have been doing many things. Quit playing the Lefts games for them,” one wrote
“Steve Bannon, after calling for Trump to be President for life, did a Nazi salute on stage at CPAC. Nazism has officially taken over the GOP. The few remaining conservatives have a choice: either leave the party and obstruct it—or choose to be complicit,” one wrote.
The controversy comes as no surprise to those familiar with Bannon’s polarizing career. His speech at CPAC focused heavily on dismantling what he called the “globalist elite”.
Neither Bannon nor his representatives have directly addressed the gesture.
