Musk vs Booker: A Salute, A Viral Video, and Political Bias

The world condemned Elon Musk shortly after he was caught on video making, allegedly, a Nazi salute. The images went viral; condemnation came in from far and wide, by Democrats – elected leaders, organization, and on social media.

In January 2025, Musk made the gesture during a speech at President Donald Trump’s inauguration rally, which some outlets, including CNN, MSNBC, and PBS, labeled as resembling a Nazi salute. This sparked widespread coverage, with over 16 minutes of airtime dedicated to the story in the week following, according to a Media Research Center study. Critics like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and CNN’s Kasie Hunt amplified the narrative, with some calling it a “Sieg Heil” salute, despite Musk’s explanation that it was a heartfelt gesture to thank supporters.

We knew better. Even the Anti Defamation League as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the images as being manipulative and clearly, Musk does not espouse Nazi ideology. yet, the damage was done.

And then, another salute happened.

At the California Democratic Party’s convention just last weekend in Anaheim, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker address the crowd of 4,000 delegates, throwing up his arm in the controversial salute manner . What ensued moments later was yet another example of the power of social media, and media in general. The gesture—Booker placing his hand over his heart before extending it was likened to a Nazi salute.

Seeing this short arm action from Booker as it transpired live, Yours Truly, in astonishment, recorded the clip from the media feed from the convention. I posted it on Twitter/X, and within an hour, Booker’s Nazi Salute went viral. To date, over 1 million have viewed my video from my account alone. Then, added to reposts and shared clips by Elon Musk himself, an estimated total views reach in the high tens of millions to over one hundred million. And print media caught on to the scandal as well, including Newsweek.

Further stories popped up at Brietbart.com , Mediaite, Yahoo News, Daily Beast, Economic Times, Forbes and more. Even OneIndia covered the scandal:

And then, nothing.

Unlike the “outrage” at Elon Musk’s arm thrusts, Cory Booker’s salute garnered nearly no follow-up protest coverage by mainstream media. Nothing from CBS, ABC, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, Washington Post, New York Times. Crickets.

At that Anaheim convention, Booker’s speech aimed to rally Democratic delegates, positioning him as a potential 2028 presidential contender. The gesture occurred as he concluded, likely meant as a gesture of gratitude or solidarity. But many accused Booker (and mainstream media) of hypocrisy, citing outrage over Musk’s prior gestures.

Newsweek’s coverage framed the story as “MAGA accuses” Booker, focusing on conservative reactions rather than the gesture itself, unlike their earlier headline about Musk, “80 Years After Auschwitz, Elon Musk Keeps the Fascist Salute Alive.”

The hypocrisy lies in the media’s selective scrutiny. Musk, associated with Trump and conservative causes, faced intense criticism and accusations of Nazi sympathies, while Cory Booker, a prominent Democrat, received minimal attention, buried even, with his gesture downplayed as merely a wave. This disparity reflects a clear bias, as outlets that heavily covered Musk’s gesture ignored or minimized Booker’s, despite their visual similarity. For example, conservative figures like Rep. Elise Stefanik and commentators on Twitter/X called out the “glaring double standard,” targeting Republicans or Trump allies while shielding Democrats.

Still, the stark contrast in media coverage—16 minutes for Musk, near silence for Booker—is a double standard, as the gestures themselves were nearly identical. This fuels distrust in media impartiality, with critics like Musk himself calling out “legacy media lies” for their inconsistent standards.

Media outlets are businesses, after all – driven by audience engagement, and bias often reflects catering to specific demographics. CNN, CBS, MSNBC, and The New York Times target left-leaning audiences, who are more likely to view Musk skeptically due to his Trump ties and Twitter/X’s role in amplifying conservative voices. Sensationalizing Musk’s gesture as a potential Nazi salute drove clicks and TV viewership, as evidenced by the 16 minutes of airtime across networks. Social media metrics from Twitter/X show posts about Musk’s gesture garnered tens of millions of impressions, with hashtags like #MuskSalute trending back in January.

Covering Cory Booker’s gesture risked alienating those left-leaning outlets’ core audiences, who view Booker favorably. Reporting on it could also lend validity to conservative criticism of media bias, undermining their credibility. Instead, outlets like Newsweek framed the story as a “MAGA” attack, deflecting scrutiny from Booker and appealing to readers skeptical of Republican narratives. This selective outrage reflects “audience capture,” where media prioritize stories that reinforce their viewers’ biases. Fox News, conversely, gave Booker’s gesture more attention, with segments calling out liberal media hypocrisy, catering to its right-leaning audience. This polarization, where each side amplifies stories suiting its base, deepens the bias divide. And of course, mistrust. After all, its the same gesture, different rules. Media picks sides.

Some defenders of Booker claim his salute at the convention is about context. Well, if context matters, why was Booker’s gesture not at least investigated – for consistency? The near-total silence from major media outlets, despite Twitter/X-driven comparisons reaching tens of millions, suggests political bias overrides journalistic curiosity, underscores how media prioritize economic and ideological pressures.