Another day, another controversy over a hand gesture.
This time, it’s Senator Cory Booker under fire after making a move at the California Democratic Party Convention that some folks say looked a little too much like a Nazi salute.
A short video clip shows Booker ending his speech with his arm raised and palm outstretched.
UH OH https://t.co/qiYiorTujH
— The Redheaded libertarian (@TRHLofficial) May 31, 2025
It didn’t take long for critics to draw comparisons to a certain salute that should’ve stayed buried in the past.
Just a few months ago, Elon Musk caught heat for something similar during Donald Trump’s second inauguration.
Musk raised his arm in a gesture that many, especially in Europe, likened to a fascist salute.
The backlash was swift and fierce, with some groups calling for him to be banned from entering countries like Germany.
Here’s the kicker: while Musk’s gesture led to an international outcry, Booker’s, for now, is mostly making waves on conservative social media.
Groups like the Anti-Defamation League, who had plenty to say when Musk was in the spotlight, have thus far been quiet.
Critics are quick to point out the hypocrisy.
How can the same gesture spark outrage for one person and a shrug for another—just because they sit on different sides of the political aisle?
If the media and advocacy groups want to police public behavior, they should at least try to be consistent.
To be clear, no one’s saying Booker was giving a Nazi salute on purpose.
Maybe it was just a poorly timed wave, or a passionate politician caught in the moment. But in this climate, where everything gets dissected frame-by-frame, it’s hard to chalk it up to coincidence.
What this controversy really highlights is how quick we are to jump on—or ignore—certain stories based on who’s involved.
When Elon Musk, a polarizing figure with right-leaning sympathies, made a gesture, it was treated as global news.
The truth is, fascist symbolism doesn’t care about party lines. It’s dangerous, period.
That’s why it’s banned in places like Germany. It’s also why both the right and the left should be held to the same standard when it comes to symbols, gestures, and public accountability.
We can debate intent all day long, but in politics, optics matter.
If Booker didn’t mean anything by it, fine—say so. Clarify it. Don’t pretend it didn’t happen just because it’s inconvenient.
The same people who jumped on Musk for doing the exact same thing should at least acknowledge the double take Booker’s moment deserves.
Billionaire tech mogul or U.S. senator, public figures have a responsibility to understand the weight of their actions—even the unintentional ones.
And the rest of us? We’ve got a responsibility to call those actions (and double standards) out.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
