CPAC Chaos: Bannon's Gesture Sparks Nazi Salute Controversy and Mocking of French Politician
Steve Bannon, the controversial former strategist for Donald Trump, found himself at the center of a heated debate at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) held in Maryland. The uproar began when Bannon made a gesture during his speech that many critics claimed resembled a Nazi salute. His speech, filled with fervor, urged the crowd to rally behind Trump for a potential 2028 presidential bid. The gesture in question: Bannon's raised right arm, was labeled as incendiary by many, including the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
Bannon, however, dismissed the accusations outright. He described the gesture as a simple wave, a motion he uses to thank his audience at the end of every speech. This denial did little to quell the backlash, with the ADL emphasizing Bannon's past associations with antisemitism and extremism. The controversy didn't end there.
Jordan Bardella, a far-right political leader from France, promptly canceled his scheduled CPAC appearance following the incident. He cited the salute as a provocative act, saturated with connections to Nazi ideology. In response, Bannon lashed out, deriding Bardella's decision and questioning his leadership capabilities. Bannon provocatively labeled him as "unworthy to lead France," reducing him to "a boy, not a man."
This incident is reminiscent of a stir caused weeks earlier by Elon Musk, who made a comparable gesture during Trump’s inauguration celebration. While the ADL described Musk's action as an awkward, enthusiastic slip, it fuelled a wave of criticism and raised questions about intentionality.
Among the international onlookers at CPAC, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico attended the conference but chose to remain silent on the fracas, though he endorsed Trump’s position on Ukraine. Czech political figures were less reticent, with Alexandr Vondra and Miloš Vystrčil expressing discomfort. Vystrčil notably remarked he would have left the event over such implications.
The episode ignited a broader conversation about the conservative movement's trajectory. Bannon’s speech, in which he provocatively suggested Trump should aim to be "President for life," added fuel to concerns about authoritarian leanings on the rise. Far-right activist Nick Fuentes admitted to feeling uneasy with what he described as overt Nazi symbolism permeating certain conservative circles. The debate over extremism and radicalization within conservative factions continues, underscoring tensions within the GOP's evolving identity.