Key Takeaways:

• Steve Bannon is accused of making a Nazi salute during his speech at CPAC.
• French far-right leader Jordan Bardella canceled his planned speech over Bannon's gesture.
• The Anti-Defamation League condemned Bannon for stoking antisemitism.
• Critics noted similarities between Bannon’s gesture and former advisor Elon Musk's controversial arm movement.
• Bannon firmly denies the allegations, labeling the gesture a 'wave' to the audience.

Steve Bannon, former chief strategist to President Donald Trump, has ignited significant controversy following his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) where he was alleged to have made a "Nazi salute" gesture. This incident occurred during his address wherein he rallied the audience by proclaiming, "Fight, fight, fight!" while extending his right arm with his palm facing down, a gesture reminiscent of those associated with Nazi ideology. Following the speech, critics wasted no time in drawing comparisons to similar accusations aimed at tech billionaire Elon Musk, who had a similar incident at a previous event. According to Newsweek, Bannon claimed the movement was merely a wave, emphasizing the "exact same wave" he had executed at political events previously.

The fallout from this gesture was swift, with Jordan Bardella, president of France’s far-right National Rally party, opting to cancel his scheduled CPAC speech, citing the provoking nature of Bannon’s actions. Bardella stated, "one of the speakers allowed himself a gesture alluding to Nazi ideology," emphasizing the cultural implications of such a gesture in modern politics. His decision reflects a significant sensitivity to the public perception of far-right movements, especially given National Rally's history and its efforts to distance itself from the uglier aspects of its past, including antisemitism, as reported by South China Morning Post.

Amidst the backlash, Bannon criticized Bardella as "a boy, not a man," suggesting that if Bardella was shaken enough to cancel his speech based on mainstream media portrayal, he was not fit to lead France. This reflects Bannon's broader disdain for media coverage, which he decries as biased, particularly against populist right-wing figures. His remarks were covered by various news outlets, including The Hill, which noted that Bardella is viewed as a potential presidential contender in France's future elections.

The situation has been exacerbated by condemnations from organizations like the Anti-Defamation League, which highlighted Bannon's troubling history of promoting antisemitism. A statement from the ADL emphasized, “Steve Bannon’s long and disturbing history of stoking antisemitism… is well documented” as reported by Los Angeles Times.

While the incident continues to garner attention, it raises questions about the normalization of extremist gestures within political spheres and the ongoing influence of figures like Bannon and Musk within American and global political dialogues. The reverberations of Bannon's actions at CPAC will likely influence not only his standing within American right-wing politics but also the broader image of far-right movements internationally. As the discussions unfold, the implications for political leaders like Bardella and the strategic positioning of the National Rally remain uncertain, given the sensitivity surrounding Nazi imagery in political symbolism today.