The recent controversy surrounding Democratic Senator Cory Booker’s arm gesture at a California Democratic Convention has ignited a fierce debate about media double standards in political coverage. Conservative critics have pointed out the stark contrast between the media’s treatment of Booker’s extended arm motion versus the harsh condemnation Elon Musk received for a similar gesture. Are Republicans the only ones who can be accused of being a “Nazi”?
Tale of Two Gestures: Double Standards Exposed
Democratic Senator Cory Booker has come under fire from conservative pundits after making what they describe as a “Nazi salute” during a speech at the California Democratic Convention. The New Jersey senator was captured on video placing his hand over his heart before extending his arm with an open palm in a straight-arm gesture above shoulder height, drawing immediate comparisons to Elon Musk’s similar motion that sparked controversy earlier this year.
Conservative commentator Brandon Straka highlighted the parallel between the two incidents, posting, “Same gesture. Different political party. Funny how that works.” Social media quickly filled with users pointing out the apparent double standard in media coverage, with many noting that mainstream outlets that condemned Musk have remained largely silent about Booker’s similar gesture.
Here’s a list of all the news networks who have not covered Cory Booker’s salute:
– NYTimes
– CNN
– Washington Post
– MSNBC
– NPR
– USA Today
– Reuters
– Axios
– ABC NewsEvery single one of them wrote stories on Elon Musk’s “salute”…
…do you get it yet? pic.twitter.com/s4VuquhbEs
— Matt Van Swol (@matt_vanswol) June 1, 2025
Media Response Shows Striking Contrast
The incident with Elon Musk occurred during an inauguration celebration at Capital One Arena in January, where he extended his arm in what he later described as a gesture of appreciation. Despite his explanation, numerous media outlets and social media users accused him of performing a Nazi salute, prompting widespread condemnation across left-leaning platforms.
Booker’s office has not provided any comment on the recent controversy surrounding his gesture. Meanwhile, conservative outlets have highlighted how mainstream media sources that aggressively covered Musk’s gesture have been noticeably restrained or silent regarding Booker’s similar motion, fueling accusations of partisan bias in reporting standards.
DO NOT BELIEVE THE MEDIA
The media is misleading you. Elon Musk never did a Nazi salute. Watch the full video: He simply gestured and said, “Thank you, my heart goes out to you.” pic.twitter.com/e3vBaLoVqx
— DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) January 20, 2025
Defenders Point to Context and Intent
Following the controversy over Musk’s gesture, several prominent Jewish leaders came to his defense, including the Anti-Defamation League which stated: “It seems that @elonmusk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people are on edge.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also defended Musk, describing him as a “great friend of Israel” and dismissing accusations of antisemitism.
Richie Greenberg, who first shared the clip of Booker, described it as the senator saluting “4,000 CA Democrat Party delegates,” giving context to the moment. Conservative commentators have pointed out that if context and intent matter for interpreting Booker’s gesture, the same standard should have been applied to Musk, highlighting what they view as selective outrage based on political affiliation rather than consistent ethical standards in media reporting.