CNN panelist dares Scott Jennings to perform Musk salute on live TV
CNN political analyst Scott Jennings and Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell got into a heated debate on Monday over billionaire Elon Musk's widely-debated gesture during an inaugural event for President Trump last week.
“I don’t understand why this guy keeps getting the benefit of the doubt, whether or not he believes this stuff, personally,” Rampell said while appearing on CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip.
"We’ve moved on from Trump derangement syndrome to Elon derangement syndrome,” Jennings quipped in response. “So, he has a long record of supporting the Jewish people, number one. Number two, anybody who is asserting this thing he did on the stage the other day was a Sieg Heil, which I just heard you say, you know, lawyer up maybe because, [it is an] absolute ridiculous thing to say.”
Rampell then dared Jennings to "do it on TV right now."
“Why don’t you do it on TV right now if you think it’s so, so banal," she insisted before the two panelists began talking over one another
"This salute trutherism is outrageous," Jennings later scoffed.
"So do it right now on TV," the columnist insisted again.
"This is the biggest conspiracy theory," Jennings pushed back.
"Do it right now on TV. If you think it’s normal, if you think it’s a normal way to greet people, do it right now on TV," Rampell pressed him. "Why won’t you?"
Monday night's exchange was first highlighted by Mediate.
Anchor Abby Phillip attempted to redirect the conversation and said Jennings was "trying to defend, for whatever reason, the Sieg Heil."
Jennings then dared other panelists to "say Republicans are Nazis, go ahead say it."
"I can't believe you are defending this," Rampell exclaimed.
Musk's hand gesture came during a celebration of President Trump’s inauguration in Washington, D.C., last week and sparked a debate about the intention behind it.
Musk has denied allegations that he was performing a Nazi salute, saying those making the comparison were using “dirty tricks" to tear him down.
Topics
-
No. 7 Texas visits Ole Miss after Scott's 30-point performance
Texas Longhorns (19-2, 5-1 SEC) at Ole Miss Rebels (13-5, 4-2 SEC) Oxford, Mississippi; Sunday, 3 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: Ole Miss hosts No. 7 Texas after Madison Scott scored 30 points in Ole ...ABC News - 4d -
What Elon Musk’s Salute Was All About
A gesture associated with the Nazis has a surprising history. But in Germany, there was little doubt about its meaning.The New York Times - 4d -
US meteorologist fired from TV station after criticizing Elon Musk salute
Sam Kuffel’s departure comes after far-right radio host slams her condemnation of X owner’s apparent Nazi salute. A Milwaukee meteorologist has been fired from her TV station after she criticized ...The Guardian - 6d -
Musk mocks Nazi salute accusations with puns
Elon Musk referenced Adolf Hitler and other Nazi leaders in a social media post filled with puns early Thursday taunting those who accused him of doing a Nazi salute at an event after President ...The Hill - Jan. 23 -
German journalist on Elon Musk: 'A Hitler Salute is a Hitler Salute is a Hitler Salute'
A political editor for a German newspaper is blasting billionaire Elon Musk over a hand gesture Musk made that has sparked widespread outrage. "A Hitler Salute is a Hitler Salute is a Hitler ...The Hill - Jan. 22 -
Musk on salute blowback: 'Frankly, they need better dirty tricks'
Elon Musk responded to criticism of his gesture during a post-inauguration speech on Monday, saying those comparing it to a Nazi salute were deploying "dirty tricks." “Frankly, they need better ...The Hill - Jan. 21 -
ADL: 'Awkward' Musk gesture 'not a Nazi salute': 'This is a delicate moment'
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a nonprofit focused on combating antisemitism, defended tech billionaire Elon Musk’s “awkward” gesture during a Monday celebratory event which some critics panned ...The Hill - Jan. 21 -
Nadler condemns 'what appears to be a Heil Hitler salute' from Musk
Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.) was among those who sharply criticized billionaire Elon Musk on Monday for making "what appears to be a Heil Hitler salute" during an event celebrating the inauguration ...The Hill - Jan. 21 -
Nicola Jennings on Putin, Trump and Musk’s impact on world politics this year – cartoon
Continue reading...The Guardian - Jan. 1
More from The Hill
-
Trump initial second-term approval rating among lowest in decades
President Trump has the lowest approval rating among all elected presidents since 1953, with 47 percent support, according to a Gallup poll released Thursday.The Hill - 21m -
Live updates: Trump to hold press briefing on plane crash; Gabbard, Patel, RFK Jr. appear before senators
President Trump intends will hold a press briefing from the White House Thursday morning to update reporters on a late-night midair crash between a passenger plane and Army helicopter near ...The Hill - 32m -
Who will keep the parasitic billionaire in check — before it’s too late?
Can the fragile ecosystems of our planet survive the rapid succession of newly minted trillionaires? Or are they the single greatest threat to humanity?The Hill - 36m -
US economy grew 2.8 percent in 2024, but slowed to end year
Fourth quarter economic growth eased to an annualized rate of 2.3 percent, shy of an expected 2.6 percent, as the economy heads into uncertain territory. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth slowed ...The Hill - 52m -
Ogles: 'Did DEI play a role' in fatal DC plane crash?
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) is questioning whether diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) played a role in the fatal plane crash at Reagan Washington National Airport outside of Washington, D.C. ...The Hill - 55m
More in Politics
-
Trump initial second-term approval rating among lowest in decades
President Trump has the lowest approval rating among all elected presidents since 1953, with 47 percent support, according to a Gallup poll released Thursday.The Hill - 21m -
Live updates: Trump to hold press briefing on plane crash; Gabbard, Patel, RFK Jr. appear before senators
President Trump intends will hold a press briefing from the White House Thursday morning to update reporters on a late-night midair crash between a passenger plane and Army helicopter near ...The Hill - 32m -
Who will keep the parasitic billionaire in check — before it’s too late?
Can the fragile ecosystems of our planet survive the rapid succession of newly minted trillionaires? Or are they the single greatest threat to humanity?The Hill - 36m -
Gabbard criticizes 'weaponization' of the intelligence community in opening statement
Tulsi Gabbard, President Trump's pick to serve as the director of national intelligence, used her opening statement to criticize what she viewed as the "weaponization and politicization of the ...NBC News - 36m -
Durbin pushes Patel on Jan. 6 pardons
Senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill., questioned Kash Patel about his support of President Trump's pardon of Jan. 6 rioters convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers, including those who have since ...NBC News - 39m