French Far-Right Leader Cancels CPAC Speech After Bannon's Controversial Gesture
French far-right leader Jordan Bardella canceled his scheduled speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in the United States after former Trump adviser Steve Bannon appeared to make a gesture resembling a Nazi salute during his speech. The incident occurred on Thursday, February 20, 2025, during Bannon’s address at the conference, where he concluded his remarks by raising his arm in a manner that critics likened to a fascist salute. Bardella, leader of France’s National Rally party, described Bannon’s gesture as “alluding to Nazi ideology” and opted to withdraw from the event.
Bannon’s gesture sparked widespread controversy on social media, with critics accusing him of performing a Nazi salute. The moment was met with applause from the CPAC audience, and Bannon acknowledged the response with a nod before saying “Amen.” The incident has drawn comparisons to a similar gesture made by Elon Musk at a Trump rally in January 2025, which also faced backlash. While some defended Bannon’s gesture as a form of political expression or trolling, others, including members of the Republican Party, condemned it as a troubling embrace of far-right symbolism.
The controversy has reignited concerns about the influence of far-right ideologies within certain factions of the Republican Party and the broader conservative movement. Bannon, a prominent figure in the MAGA movement, has long been a polarizing figure, and his actions at CPAC have further fueled debates about the direction of U.S. politics under the influence of former President Donald Trump.
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Bardella drops out of US conference after speaker gives Hitler salute
Jordan Bardella, leader of France's National Rally, cancelled his appearance at CPAC after Steve Bannon made an apparent Nazi salute during his speech
www.euronews.com