NEWARK, NJ — U.S. Senator Cory Booker is facing criticism from conservative commentators after making a gesture during a speech Saturday at a California Democratic convention that some likened to a Nazi salute.
Booker, a Democrat from New Jersey, placed his hand over his heart and extended his arm with an open hand above shoulder height while addressing thousands of attendees. The gesture, caught on video, quickly drew comparisons to a similar move made by Elon Musk earlier this year, which was widely criticized by progressive figures and mainstream media outlets.
Gesture draws comparisons to Musk controversy
Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and X, formerly Twitter, was accused of making a Nazi-style salute in a separate incident, which led to widespread condemnation by Democratic lawmakers and liberal media figures.
Saturday’s gesture by Booker prompted some internet influencers and political commentators to draw parallels between the two situations, questioning the lack of public response from left-leaning politicians and advocacy groups.
