Hypocrisy Alert: Media Played Up ‘Nazi Salute’ Narrative Against Elon, Shrug At Cory Booker’s ‘Wave’

Accusations of media hypocrisy have erupted over similar hand gestures by tech billionaire Elon Musk and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ). Critics argue that the press unfairly targeted Musk while giving Booker a pass.

The debate stems from Musk extending out his right arm after placing his hand over his heart to the crowd during a Inauguration Day rally for President Donald Trump, which some labeled a “Nazi salute” and resulted in breathless news coverage, while Booker’s comparable wave at a recent California Democrats event has drawn far less scrutiny, prompting condemnation from conservative figures and commentators.

Spot The (D)ifference… pic.twitter.com/aPlb173M8S

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) June 1, 2025

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) chastised the media’s coverage, declaring on X, “The mainstream media is totally corrupt. In January, Democrats and the Left were hyperventilating about this false smear of Elon and the stenographers in the media went to work.”

The mainstream media is totally corrupt.

In January, Democrats and the Left were hyperventilating about this false smear of Elon and the stenographers in the media went to work.

It was the trending news story the morning of my Senate hearing in January and I was asked about… https://t.co/RiinalTvaV

— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) June 1, 2025

The congresswoman recounted being pressed about Musk’s gesture during a Senate hearing in January, calling it “a ridiculous question” from Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT).

“The American people are smart,” Stefanik added. “Neither Elon Musk or [Booker] are giving the Nazi salute. Americans see thru this obvious and destructive double standard by the totally broken media and Democrat Party.”

Conservative communicator Steve Guest echoed the sentiment.

“Will the media respond the same way to Cory Booker waving to the crowd as they did to Elon Musk waving to the crowd or was it all just performative nonsense when Elon did it?” Guest asked.

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British broadcaster Piers Morgan also sounded off.

“It’s most amusing to watch all the people who branded [Musk] a Nazi now tying themselves in tortured knots trying to explain why Cory Booker isn’t… for doing the EXACT SAME THING. Of course, neither is.. but the hypocrisy stinks,” Morgan said.

The X account Libs of TikTok, run by Chaya Raichik, called out specific news outlets.

One was MSNBC.

Hi @MSNBC, you reported on Elon’s hand gesture and compared him to a n*zi

I was looking for your article on Cory Booker’s salute but I couldn’t find it..

I’m sure you probably just missed this story by mistake…

Here’s the clip. I look forward to your report condemning him. pic.twitter.com/gUXxi3ncdM

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 1, 2025

The Western Lensman account on X highlighted a post from PBS, which the Trump administration has moved to defund over the view that it is spreading “woke propaganda.” PBS has since filed a lawsuit.

Hello, @NewsHour — will you be making a post comparing Cory Booker’s apparent “fascist salute” to the “Sieg Heil?”

Your post about Elon Musk making a very similar gesture amassed over 36M views.

Since you assure US taxpayers that PBS is a non-partisan organization, and all. pic.twitter.com/OPcwtD1Cjv

— Western Lensman (@WesternLensman) June 1, 2025

Musk responded to several of the posts, criticizing the mainstream media.

In one, Musk said, “They are such hypocrites.” In another, he said, “Legacy media is one big psy op.”

Booker’s team defended the senator, dismissing comparisons to Musk’s wave.

“Cory Booker was obviously just waving to the crowd. Anyone who claims his wave is the same as Elon Musk’s gesture is operating in bad faith. The differences between the two are obvious to anyone without an agenda,” Booker spokesperson Maya Krishna-Rogers told Fox News.