The gesture of a raised-arm salute made by Stephen K. Bannon, which resembled a Nazi gesture, caused an outcry from critics of President Trump and his allies. This incident came at a time when the administration seems to be leaning more aggressively into far-right alliances around the world. This is exemplified by Elon Musk, a key figure in Mr. Trump’s cost-cutting efforts, also making a similar salute on Inauguration Day. The White House, through Vice President JD Vance, has been building bridges to Alternative for Germany, a German right-wing party with ties to Nazi slogans. This move has garnered backlash from some European right-wing leaders, such as Jordan Bardella of France’s National Rally, who canceled his plans to speak at a conference after Mr. Bannon’s gesture.
Mr. Trump and his allies have long faced criticism for refusing to denounce white nationalists. Despite this, the Trump administration is actively reaching out to previously marginalized political movements with links to white nationalism abroad. Mr. Bannon, a prominent figure in Mr. Trump’s populist movement, made the controversial gesture at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) outside Washington. The gesture was interpreted by many as a suggestion for President Trump to pursue a constitutionally prohibited third term, and Mr. Bannon’s remarks were met with cheers from the audience.
Elon Musk’s support for the Alternative for Germany party in Germany, along with his warnings of a “genocide of white people” in South Africa, have raised concerns about the Trump administration’s stance on far-right ideologies. Mr. Musk’s and Mr. Vance’s support for various right-wing movements around the world, as well as the Trump administration’s actions such as halting aid to South Africa, have raised red flags.
The gestures made by Mr. Bannon and Mr. Musk have added complexity to the alliances being formed between the Trump administration and right-wing political movements globally. While some parties, like the Alternative for Germany, have welcomed the support from Mr. Musk and Mr. Vance, others, such as the National Rally in France, have distanced themselves from associations with Nazism due to legal implications. Mr. Bannon’s gesture has also caused concern for Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister, who is scheduled to speak at CPAC. Her opponents have called on her to disassociate herself from the event due to the controversy surrounding Mr. Bannon’s salute.
The incident at CPAC has highlighted tensions within the project of building relationships with right-wing political movements globally. Associations with far-right ideologies, particularly those linked to Nazism, have caused discomfort among some European parties and leaders. The normalization strategies employed by some right-wing parties, such as the National Rally in France and the Brothers of Italy party, underscore the challenges of balancing political alliances with concerns about extremism.
Overall, the controversy surrounding the gestures made by Mr. Bannon and Mr. Musk at CPAC reflects a larger trend of the Trump administration’s engagement with far-right movements globally. The incident has sparked debates about the implications of aligning with parties and leaders who have ties to white nationalism and extremism. As political alliances continue to evolve, the tensions between mainstream conservatism and far-right ideologies are likely to persist.
