Bardella announced his withdrawal from the conference after claiming Bannon made a "gesture referring to Nazi ideology" during a speech on Thursday. Bannon was accused of giving a Nazi salute after he extended his right arm out with palm facing out after his address, though he has denied the claim.
The former Trump advisor later calls the leader of France’s Right-Wing Party 'a pretty boy. He’s never going to be able to lead France.'
The blowback extended beyond the Jewish community and into Bannon’s own political camp. Far-right French leader Jordan Bardella canceled his own CPAC appearance because of Bannon’s gesture, which Bardella called “a gesture alluding to Nazi ideology.” Bannon denied it was a Nazi salute and said Bardella “wets himself like a little child.”
A crowd of conservatives at Steve Bannon's event outside the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) applauded a "fugitive" who said he fled from the FBI for four years after participating in the Capitol riot on Jan.
Elon Musk was previously criticized for a similar gesture at a speech last month celebrating Trump’s inauguration.
Longtime Trump loyalist Bannon has spoken out against Musk and his growing role in Trump's administration several times before, accusing Musk, the world's richest person, of being "a racist," "an agent of Chinese influence" and an existential threat to the MAGA movement.
(AP) — Steve Bannon was accused of making a Nazi salute ... Meanwhile, French far-right National Rally president Jordan Bardella said he had canceled his scheduled speech at CPAC on Friday ...