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A heated exchange erupted on CNN Monday when opinion contributor Scott Jennings and Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell clashed over allegations of Elon Musk’s alleged Nazi sympathies.
The dispute centered on a gesture Musk made to the crowd at a Trump rally post-inauguration. Critics have interpreted this motion as reminiscent of a Nazi salute, though this characterization is heavily disputed.
During the segment, Rampell pointed to controversial statements Musk had made regarding Jewish influence in Western society, using these to support her assertion that he was “playing footsie” with Nazi ideology.
LAWYER UP: I’m rarely in favor of litigation, but Elon Musk and the AfD ought to sue Catherine Rampell and CNN for defamation. @ScottJenningsKY was right, she acted with malice and needs to be held accountable.
h/t @alx pic.twitter.com/YOjhEAU4s7
— @amuse (@amuse) January 28, 2025
“I just think it’s horrific,” she said. “I don’t understand why this guy keeps getting the benefit of the doubt, whether or not he believes this stuff personally,” Rampell contended.
The discussion grew increasingly tense as Jennings, who displayed visible frustration throughout Rampell’s comments, defended Musk against these accusations.
“We’ve moved on from Trump derangement syndrome to Elon derangement syndrome,” Jennings responded.
When Rampell attempted to interject, Jennings pushed back: “I love this game we play, where you talk for two minutes, I talk for three seconds, and you freak out.”
Jennings proceeded to defend Musk’s reputation, citing his history of supporting Jewish causes. He also warned that accusations about the gesture being a Nazi salute could have legal consequences, suggesting critics should “lawyer up.”
This legal reference particularly agitated Rampell, who repeatedly interrupted Jennings’s subsequent points and challenged him to recreate Musk’s controversial gesture.
Elon Musk gave us a platform for free speech, and Donald Trump is legitimizing that free speech.
We are the media now. pic.twitter.com/3x7ZpLVCn0
— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) January 28, 2025
The heated exchange highlighted the diminishing impact of such accusations in contemporary political discourse. While CNN’s remaining viewers might find merit in Rampell’s arguments, much of the public has grown weary of terms like “racist,” “bigot,” and “Nazi” being used as political weapons.
This fatigue with inflammatory rhetoric was evident in Trump’s recent electoral victory, achieved despite similar accusations. The incident may ultimately benefit Musk and his supporters, as such aggressive tactics from critics increasingly appear to backfire.
As the left continues to employ these controversial strategies, their influence appears to be waning, suggesting a need for new approaches to political dialogue.