CNN is again under scrutiny for its persistent promotion of the so-called “Salute Hoax,” despite facing financial repercussions from repeated defamation suits. This controversial stance emerged most recently in an episode of CNN’s State of the Union, where host Dana Bash and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker engaged in what some critics have termed “Salute Trutherism.”
During the show, Dana Bash addressed a controversial incident involving Elon Musk, who had appeared at a rally for a far-right political party in Germany. Bash questioned Musk’s alleged Nazi salute, stating, “I want to ask you about an election that’s actually going to happen in Germany, because Elon Musk addressed a rally for a far-right political party there this weekend, and he told them that they had his support and Trump’s support and that Germans should focus less on past guilt. […] But I wonder what your response is to all of this.” This led to a discussion about the political implications of Musk’s actions and his subsequent jokes about Nazi figures, despite him denying any wrongdoing.
Responding to Bash’s question, Governor JB Pritzker expressed his concern, saying, “Look. At a moment when anti-Semitism is at an all-time high in my lifetime, we have a very prominent figure who is very closely associated with the president standing up at a presidential rally and giving two Nazi salutes in a row. Now, if he didn’t mean it, he should apologize.” Pritzker further emphasized the gravity of the situation, highlighting how Neo-nazis celebrated Musk’s actions, which should have served as a warning. “Now, what does he follow it up with? Jokes about Nazis. Jokes. Like it’s okay,” he added, strongly condemning Musk’s rhetoric and its impact worldwide.
Interestingly, Dana Bash did not shy away from labeling Musk’s action a “Nazi Salute,” a term her colleagues at CNN, such as Erin Burnett and Kasie Hunt, seemed to hesitate using. This has sparked speculation about whether Bash disregarded any legal advice aimed at avoiding defamation. The network’s critics argue that CNN’s portrayal is distorted, suggesting there was never any substance to the claim and dismissing it as a debunked conspiracy.
I DID NAZI THAT COMING: Having just been smacked for defamation, CNN books Obama oligarch and ILGOV JB Pritzker for further propagation of the well-debunked Salute Hoax against @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/vOeckeZdTS
— Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) January 26, 2025
Pritzker, described as an Obama-adjacent oligarch, faced notably less scrutiny compared to Musk, particularly concerning the current discourse about oligarchs. This disparity appears to be linked to political affiliations, pointing to a perceived double standard in media coverage when it comes to wealth and influence depending on partisan lines.
Despite numerous challenges to this narrative, CNN continues to draw criticism for this interpretation. Analysts and commentators alike suggest that this persistence could lead not just to reputational costs but potentially legal ones, with a foreseeable future defamation ruling.