Rhiannon Ingle
A US meteorologist has been fired following her comments made about Elon Musk’s extremely controversial salute.
Earlier this week on Monday (20 January) Trump, 78, was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States at his inauguration ceremony, which saw many famous faces in attendance - one of which was billionaire Musk, who bankrolled the Republican leader's presidential campaign.
The 52-year-old Tesla CEO even gave a speech at the celebratory rally in Washington, but it was one particular gesture made during Musk's speech that has had people talking over the last few days.
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At one point, Musk told Trump's supporters: "I just want to say thank you for making it happen."
He then slapped his chest with his right hand and thrust it into the air, with his palm facing towards the ground.
Turning around to address those behind him, he repeated the move and added: "My heart goes out to you."
The gesture has sparked major backlash online, with some accusing Musk of doing a 'Nazi salute', with New York University history professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat saying: "Historian of fascism here. It was Nazi salute and a very belligerent one."
British political commentator Owen Jones also added: "This honestly could not look more like a Nazi salute."
Additionally, meteorologist Samantha Kuffel also shared her thoughts on the situation - something which reportedly has cost her job.
In a staff memo obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Channel 58’s news director, Jessie Garcia, wrote: "Meteorologist Sam Kuffel is no longer employed at CBS58."
She added: "A search for a replacement is underway."
The announcement came after far-right Milwaukee-based radio host, Dan O’Donnell, slammed Kuffel over two apparent Instagram posts in which she wrote: "Dude Nazi saluted twice. Twice. During the inauguration. You f**k with this and this man, I don’t f**k with you. Full stop."
The second post appeared to post a screenshot of a scene from the FX sitcom It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia in which Rob McElhenney’s character Mac says: "Screw that old b*tch. He’s a Nazi."
O’Donnell took to X on Tuesday (21 January), where he wrote: “EXCLUSIVE: @CBS58 meteorologist Sam Kuffel makes a pair of vulgar Instagram posts while spreading the lie that Elon Musk was giving a Nazi salute during yesterday’s Presidential Inauguration."
As of Thursday (23 January), Kuffel's Instagram was made private.
People were quick to defend Kuffel with one writing: "Shame on @CBS58 for firing Sam Kuffel for naming @elonmusk’s Nazi salute. Shame on @DanODonnellShow for mobilizing trolls to harass her & call for her job. This dark chapter of our country’s history will eventually be over and we’ll all remember who showed integrity & who didn’t."
"Seriously, how could a NEWS organisation FIRE someone for describing LITERALLY what this Nazi was doing – on her own personal social media page? It’s one thing if she did it on the air, but it was her social media. We are in DEEP trouble, folks," warned another.
Meanwhile, a third declared: "Elon Musk absolutely made a Nazi salute. It’s identical to the salute being made by Blood Tribe Nazis at this rally in 2024. I hope this reporter, Sam Kuffel, sues the station and wins."
Addressing the claims against him, Musk took X to argue that the comparison to Nazi Germany is 'tired'.
Quoting one of his previous tweets, in which he claimed Democrats would launch a campaign of 'dirty tricks' against him, he said: "Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The 'everyone is Hitler' attack is sooo tired."
Tyla has reached out to Samantha Kuffel and Channel 58 for comment.