Steve Bannon has denied making a Nazi salute at a conservative gathering, insisting the gesture was only a wave.
The one-time chief strategist for Donald Trump was onstage on the Conservative Political Motion Convention in Maryland on Thursday night.
Throughout his speech, he prolonged his proper arm within the air, his palm flat, after imploring the gang to “fight, fight, fight”.
The gesture drew a direct backlash because of its similarities with the salute linked to the Nazis and their allies.
Nonetheless, Mr Bannon instructed a reporter after the occasion it was “a wave like I did all the time”.
“I do it at the end of all of my speeches to thank the crowd,” he added.
Earlier the Anti-Defamation League, an antisemitism and human rights watchdog, posted on X: “Steve Bannon’s long and disturbing history of stoking antisemitism and hate, threatening violence, and empowering extremists is well known and well documented by ADL and others.
“We aren’t stunned, however are involved in regards to the normalisation of this behaviour.”
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And French far-right Nationwide Rally president Jordan Bardella cancelled his scheduled speech at CPAC on Friday in response to what he described as “a gesture referring to Nazi ideology”.
Mr Bannon hit out at Mr Bardella for his resolution, calling him “unworthy to lead France”.
Picture:
Elon Musk gestures on the podium contained in the Capital One Enviornment. Pic: Reuters
It comes simply weeks after Trump adviser Elon Musk drew criticism after he slapped his hand on his chest after which prolonged his arm out in a speech on the Capital One Enviornment in Washington DC celebrating the president’s inauguration.
However extremist screens and consultants stated it was unclear what Mr Musk was attempting to convey to the gang.
Mr Musk “made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute”, the ADL concluded.
Mr Musk additionally pushed again.
“Frankly, they need better dirty tricks,” he posted on X a number of hours after he left the stage.
“The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired.”
