Steve Bannon, a former adviser to Donald Trump, has been accused of making a Nazi salute at a Washington convention. This led French far-right leader Jordan Bardella to withdraw from the event on Friday.
Bardella, president of France’s National Rally (RN) party, cancelled his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). He believed Bannon’s gesture referred to Nazi ideology.
On Thursday night, Bannon raised his arm with a stiffened hand and palm facing down. He urged the audience to “fight, fight, fight.” Bardella immediately recognised the gesture as a provocation tied to Nazi symbolism.
In response, Bannon criticised Bardella, calling him “a little boy, not a man.” He added that Bardella was “unworthy of leading France.” Bannon defended his gesture, claiming it was simply a “wave” he often uses at conferences.
This came after Elon Musk made a similar gesture that some compared to a Nazi salute. Musk dismissed the criticism, calling the accusations tired and unoriginal.
Concerns over ‘Nazi Ideology’
Bardella wasn’t present when Bannon made the gesture, but he still decided to cancel his speech. He said the gesture alluded to Nazi ideology. Bardella had planned to speak about the relationship between the US and France and the rise of nationalist parties in Europe.
“I had been invited to speak, but I cancelled after the gesture,” Bardella said.
An adviser confirmed Bardella was referring to Bannon’s gesture.
Bardella, 29, took over the RN leadership from Marine Le Pen in 2022. They remain close allies. Under Le Pen’s leadership, the party has tried to appear less extreme. The RN secured a record number of parliamentary seats in the last election. Le Pen is expected to be a strong contender in the 2027 presidential race.
Bannon has supported European nationalist parties like the RN. His actions have often sparked controversy. Last year, he served time in prison for contempt of Congress related to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol.
Bannon’s response
Bannon strongly criticised Bardella’s decision. He argued that Bardella was “unworthy” of leading France if he based his decision on media reports. “If he cancelled because of what the media said, he didn’t listen to the speech,” Bannon said. “If that’s the case, he’s unworthy to lead France.”
Bannon pointed out that he used the same wave at a Le Pen rally seven years ago. He dismissed Bardella’s reaction as overly sensitive.
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a US-based civil rights group, didn’t comment directly on Bannon’s gesture. However, it has raised concerns about Bannon’s history of promoting antisemitism. The ADL said it wasn’t surprised by Bannon’s actions but expressed concern about the normalisation of such behaviour.
The ADL has faced criticism for defending Musk’s gesture while labelling pro-Palestinian supporters as antisemitic. Critics argue this is inconsistent with its stance on antisemitism.
