'Here we go again': Steve Bannon infuriates critics as salute draws 'Nazi' comparisons

Steve Bannon became the latest staunch Donald Trump ally Thursday night to face accusations of making a gesture compared to a "Nazi salute."

Bannon's gesture came during the right-wing Conservative Political Action Conference, an annual political gathering for conservative activists.

"The only way that they're going to win is if we retreat. And we're not going to retreat. We're not going to surrender. We're not going to quit! Fight! Fight! Fight!" shouted Bannon, as his arm raised from his stomach out to the crowd with his palm facing down. "Amen!"

Tech billionaire and head of the Department of Government Efficiency initiative Elon Musk made a similar controversial gesture during President Trump's inauguration. In that instance, Musk put his hand on his chest and then raised it in a salute during a speech to a cheering MAGA crowd.

ALSO READ: 'Gotta be kidding': Jim Jordan scrambles as he's confronted over Musk 'double standard'

Both gestures drew immediate concerns from social media critics due to their similarity to a Nazi salute, which according to the Anti-Defamation League debuted in Nazi Germany in the 1930s as a way to "pay homage to Adolf Hitler."

"It consists of raising an outstretched right arm with the palm down. In Nazi Germany, it was often accompanied by chanting or shouting 'Heil Hitler' or 'Sieg Heil.' Since World War II, neo-Nazis and other white supremacists have continued to use the salute, making it the most common white supremacist hand sign in the world," the organization wrote on its website.

"Steve Bannon does a NAZI salute at the end of his CPAC speech. Someone try and convince me that he didn’t," wrote political commentator and social media influencer Brian Krassenstein on X.

"NEW: Here we go again. Steve Bannon just threw up a Nazi salute at CPAC—right in front of the crowd.
This isn’t accidental. They know exactly what they’re doing. Don’t let them gaslight you," wrote Democratic strategist Chris D. Jackson on X.

"It looks like Steve Bannon just did a Nazi salute at the end of his CPAC speech," wrote the Republicans against Trump account on X.

"Bannon does a Nazi salute at the end of his CPAC speech," wrote activist and author Shannon Watts, who founded Moms Demand Action.

"Steve Bannon, after calling for Trump to be President for life, did a Nazi salute on stage at CPAC. Nazism has officially taken over the GOP. The few remaining conservatives have a choice: either leave the party and obstruct it—or choose to be complicit," wrote
Joshua Reed Eakle, president of Project Liberal.

Watch the clip below or at this link.