Scott Jennings, CNN political analyst and MAGA supporter, defends Elon Musk amid the Nazi salute hoax, claiming the hand gesture was not a Sieg Heil. The Tesla billionaire drew criticism last week after he valiantly acknowledged the audience at a Trump rally with a hand gesture that resembled the infamous Sieg Heil used as a mode of greeting in Nazi Germany. The billionaire has since tried to defend his actions, claiming the hand gesture was not a nod to Hitler as alleged and was in no way a Nazi Salute. Despite his explanation, though, the backlash remains prevalent, spilling on anyone who attempted to speak in Musk’s favor.
CNN political analyst Scott Jennings found himself caught up in the Elon Musk Nazi salute hoax on Monday for doing just that. Appearing on CNN’s NewsNight With Abby Phillip, the media personality attempted to explain the tech mogul’s hand gesture, noting that those blasting Musk had the “Elon Derangement Syndromme,” a wordplay on the Rupublican-invented illness “Trump Derangement Syndromme.”
He insisted that since the inauguration, people have somehow moved from the Trump Derangement syndrome to Elon Derangement syndrome. According to him, the idea that the billionaire gave a nod to Hitler on stage was absurd because he had a long history of supporting the Jewish people. He added,
“Anybody who is asserting this thing he did on the stage the other day was a Sief Heil, which I just heard you say, you know, lawyer up maybe because, [It’s is an] absolute Ridiculous thing to say.”
Scott Jennings Challenged to Mimic Elon Musk’s Salute
After his lengthy speech in Elon Musk’s defense, Washington Post Columnist Catherine Rampell dared Jennings to do the salute thing right there, in the full glare of viewers if he believed it was an innocent salute with no connection to the Nazi leader. She challenged,
“Why don’t you do it on TV right now if you think it’s so, so banal.”
Cornered, the MAGA loyalist evaded the challenge, continuously talking over his co-panelist before attempting to dismiss it saying, “This salute trutherism is outrageous.”
Rumpell remained unyielding, pressing the CNN analyst to “do it right now. Pushing back again, Jennings declared that “this is the biggest conspiracy theory,” to which the columnist responded,
“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. Why won’t you?”
At this point, Abby Phillip intervened, pointing out how Jennings was trying to defend the Elon Musk Nazi salute “for whatever reason.” The CNN political analyst retaliated by daring the other panelists to say all “Republicans are Nazis,” throwing everyone off. While the argument seemingly ended amicably to give room for other subjects, netizens took the debate online, casting daggers at Jennings while commending Rampell for calling him out and giving him a reality check.
Elon Musk himself has denied the allegations tying him to “Hitler,” claiming the Nazi salute hoax was just another agenda in the “dirty tricks campaign” to destroy him. The billionaire CEO appears to be doing a good job at that himself though, becoming entangled in a slew of compromising situations in the last few days, from his attack on Britain’s Prime Minister Kaier Stammer to his open support of the German far-right populist political party, Alternative for Germany (AFD). These actions have drawn the ire of many, including his fellow MAGA supporters.
