In the wake of the "scandal" of Elon Musk — and now, at CPAC, Steve Bannon — accused of using a Nazi salute, numerous people have gone online and found (and shared) examples of leftists, politicians and VIPs alike — and even offhand non-political citizens, like the Pope, Paul McCartney, and a Village People singer — making gestures with an arm that could easily be interpreted as them about to shout "Heil Hitler." (Read notably the Times of India article, Everybody is a Nazi — Defending Elon Musk, social media users show Taylor Swift, Obama and Superman giving 'Nazi Salute'.)
Which brings us to an incredible France24 report in which salt-smelling fact-checkers (sic) seek to debunk the fact that Democrat politicians
(alone, unlike rightist politicians) are doing anything of the kind (merci à Sylvain).
In France24's Truth Or Fake segment, one Sharon and Vedika Bahl go on to report about "a host of Democratic politicans [who] are being falsely accused online of doing Nazi salutes."
A photomontage of four Democratic politicians – Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris – has racked up over 150 million views on X, claiming to show them making what has been likened to a "Nazi salute", similar to the arm gesture Elon Musk was criticised for at Donald Trump’s inauguration. These images are stripped of their context and are all taken as screenshots from wider speeches, with no deliberate gestures. Vedika Bahl debunks clip by clip in this episode of Truth or Fake. #elonmusk #barackobama #fakenews
Snopes joins the scuffle with a strange title that is a statement already providing a judgment: No, These Politicians Did Not Make the Same Gesture as Elon Musk. Traditionally, a Snopes title is an objectively-sounding question that it proceeds to (try to) answer in the text ("Did So-and-So Really Do/Say Such-and-Such?", the very best example in this case being… Did Musk Give 'Nazi Salute' at Trump's 2025 Inauguration Rally? [before weaseling out of giving a negative, or any kind of, answer]). Here, Snopes not only defends the Democrats, it goes beyond that, it makes a point to point out that These Politicians Did Not Make the Same Gesture as Elon Musk (!), suggesting the latter's gesture, by contrast — whether fascist or other, they conveniently refrain from saying — was indeed shameful and that he was indeed guilty.
However, the images being shared present each politician in a misleading manner — they were waving their hands and speaking on different issues that had nothing to do with Nazism.
Guess what, Snopes. Guess what, France24. Yuuuuuge spoiler: That is precisely what we are saying about Elon Musk (not to mention the War Room's Bannon).
Well, if the mainstream media can report on "the spread of this misinformation" about leftists, why is Elon Musk's gesture still "controversial"? Can't France24 add right-leaning individuals to Vedika Bahl's Truth Or Fake report, such as, I dunno, Elon Musk and Steve Bannon?!
Here, let me do it for you:
few fascists ever, few Nazis ever gave the fascist/Nazi salute from the heart, as Elon Musk did. Whether in Italy, in Spain, in Portugal, or in Germany, the arm went straight up from the side as the individual is standing still. Aye, there is the rub: the salute is traditionally formal, given as a soldier standing still by an "inferior" to a "superior" at the outset of an event or only when asked (when commanded) to do so.
Thus we see lines of Germans, in uniform or civilian attire, all doing the Führergruß together, mechanically, at exactly the same time, while shouting the same words (Heil Hitler or Sieg Heil) in unison; the fact that nobody in the audience returned, or even recognized, Musk's salute, much less thought of returning it, is also evidence of elevated Drama Queenery. It is not a salute the "superior" gives to his "inferiors" (except as a return), certainly not informally in the middle of a speech, emotional or otherwise, as he (or she) prances about from one side of the stage to the other, like a Mexican jumping bean.
But luckily, when you take a look at France24's YouTube comments, the overwhelming amount of readers are smart enough to notice the double standards: just about every single comment about "Gruppenführer Musk" (LOL) eviscerates the France24 report. (The final comment is the best…)
@Stribbo55
Yep, very clear….just as clear as it is that Musk WAS NOT doing a Nazi salute.@christinefleming8435
Let's keep making excuses for the dems@JohnDoe-fb2ue
So these four images are taken out of context, but you're not taking his heartfelt gesture out of contacts, which he admitted seconds after throwing his arm in the air? What a class Act.@hamishthemack4565
Right, take Elon out of context, then complain about others being taken out of context, nice reporting there lol...@gdheaven07
Umm…those gestures look like the same kind of thing Elon did. So basically you’re saying that we shouldn’t take democrats out of context, but republicans, please take them out of context. Elon said, “my heart goes out to you” when he made that gesture.@ejkr2051
So if Musk does it it's a salute and when others move their arm it's out of context. Just admit you're looking for every little thing, trying to say something negative about Elon Musk. And president Trump for that matter. So pathetic. Just accept that president Trump is doing good work and hope that Musk can save the US some money. God knows they need it.
@christinabrashear4729
Funny how everyone else's salute has an acceptable explanation but Elon's reason is a lie and not acceptable
