The Trump administration’s return to power has signaled a resurgence in CNN’s tactics of scrutinizing President Trump and his supporters for perceived “Nazi” leanings. This time, their crosshairs are trained on Elon Musk. During a pre-inauguration rally for Trump, Musk was accused by CNN anchors, notably Erin Burnett, of potentially making a Nazi salute.
The evidence? A gesture where Musk placed his hand over his heart and then extended it outward with his palm facing down, a move meant to express gratitude to the crowd. Burnett left the interpretation open to her viewers, stating, “It’s not something that you typically see at American political rallies.” This subtle suggestion was enough to ignite speculation, despite the innocuous nature of the gesture.
CNN’s coverage was swiftly called out on social media, with a tweet from The Vigilant Fox highlighting the network’s selective editing: “#1 – CNN suggests Elon Musk made a Nazi salute during Trump’s event at Capitol One arena, purposely leaves out Musk’s comments when he said his heart goes out to the crowd.” The tweet included a quote from CNN: “It’s a salute. It was quick. I think our viewers are smart and they can take a look at that, but it… pic.twitter.com/6dMbETcdcD” This omission of context was telling, as it omitted Musk’s heartfelt comments to the crowd, “My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured,” which clearly indicated the gesture’s benign intent.
The backlash against CNN’s narrative was swift, with many pointing out the absurdity of the accusations. Elon Musk himself responded with characteristic humor, quoting a follower who termed CNN’s actions “the latest salvo in the network’s dirty tricks campaign,” and adding, “Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired.” His response was capped off with a sleeping emoji, underscoring his nonchalance towards the controversy.
Andrea Stoppa, a close associate of Musk’s, provided further context, explaining that the gesture was simply Musk’s way of expressing his feelings, given his autism. “That gesture, which some mistook for a Nazi salute, is simply Elon, who has autism, expressing his feelings by saying, ‘I want to give my heart to you,'” Stoppa clarified.
Even organizations not typically aligned with conservative viewpoints, such as the Anti-Defamation League, felt compelled to intervene, urging restraint in invoking Nazi comparisons. The ADL stated, “Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute,” a stance that underscored the need for careful consideration before making such serious allegations
This chorus of criticism highlights CNN’s penchant for sensationalism over substance, a trend that risks alienating viewers seeking balanced and fair reporting. As the network continues to push this narrative, it remains to be seen how their audience will respond to what many perceive as a baseless and tired attack strategy.
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