In January 2025, Elon Musk faced intense media scrutiny and accusations of making a Nazi salute while attending a Trump rally. Senator Cory Booker made a similar hand gesture at the California Democratic Convention but received very little media attention. Conservatives, including Rep. Elise Stefanik and Piers Morgan, have criticized the media’s inconsistent coverage. The Anti-Defamation League defended Musk, describing his gesture as “an awkward gesture made in a moment of excitement.”
Differing Media Reactions to Similar Gestures
The controversy began when Elon Musk made a gesture during Donald Trump’s second inauguration in January 2025 that some media outlets immediately characterized as resembling a Nazi salute. Major news organizations, including The New York Times and MSNBC, provided extensive coverage of the incident, with some German politicians even calling for travel bans against Musk. The tech billionaire dismissed the accusations as “dirty tricks” and criticized what he viewed as an overreaction on social media platforms.
Fast forward to May 2025, when Democratic Senator Cory Booker made what conservatives argue was a similar hand gesture during his speech at the California Democratic Convention. Despite the visual similarities, Booker’s gesture received significantly less media scrutiny or criticism from the same outlets that had condemned Musk’s motion months earlier. This stark contrast in coverage has fueled accusations of media bias and double standards in political reporting.
The intellectual rot is real, y’all. Musk and Booker performed identical gestures. The ONLY difference was the politics of the person. And now we get to watch the ideologically captured left distort reality to defend their cult’s narrative. It’s why they keep losing. https://t.co/CTpubqEOlf pic.twitter.com/vFNvlLNpXg
— Equinsu Ocha – White Devil, White Devil ᯅ (@iHeartPowder) June 2, 2025
Conservative Backlash to Perceived Double Standard
The different treatment of these two public figures has sparked outrage among conservative commentators and politicians. Rep. Elise Stefanik criticized what she called the “corrupt corporate media” for its selective outrage. Other prominent voices, including Steve Guest and Piers Morgan, joined the chorus questioning why Musk’s gesture warranted widespread condemnation while Booker’s similar motion received minimal attention or was actively defended as innocent.
Elon Musk himself addressed the controversy directly, commenting that the “everyone is Hitler’ attack is so tired” and describing the media’s selective coverage as a “psy op.” This response reflects growing frustration among conservatives who see mainstream media as systematically biased against figures associated with President Trump or conservative causes. Many point to this incident as a textbook example of how similar actions are interpreted through different political lenses.
It's hilariously ironic to see the retards who called Elon Musk a Nazi for a gesture doing the same thing. 😂 pic.twitter.com/6Id50d4QLJ
— Sir Doge of the Coin ⚔️ (@dogeofficialceo) June 1, 2025
Competing Explanations and Defenses
Both sides have offered explanations for the gestures in question. Booker’s spokesperson maintained that the senator was simply waving to the crowd, a defense similar to what Musk’s supporters had previously argued. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which monitors antisemitism, described Musk’s gesture as “an awkward gesture made in a moment of enthusiasm” rather than an intentional Nazi salute. Critics question why the same benefit of the doubt wasn’t universally applied across political lines.
Video evidence of both incidents shows similarities in the hand motions, though supporters on each side emphasize subtle differences. Some observers have noted that in political discourse, context and party affiliation often determine how gestures are interpreted and reported. This controversy highlights the challenge of maintaining objective standards in an increasingly polarized media environment where identical actions can generate wildly different reactions depending on who performs them.