On BBC Newsnight the panel of journalists and politicians were discussing Elon Musk’s emphatic salute at US President Donald Trump’s triumphal inauguration rally in Washington.
Probably most people have seen Musk’s Dr Strangelove moment by now but none of the panel would say what it most clearly was: a Nazi salute.
Musk did not just involuntarily raise his right arm and point his fingers to heaven. He slammed his right hand into his chest, paused for a long moment, and then thrust his arm outwards as tens of millions watched nationwide, and thousands of Trump supporters in the auditorium cheered.
At this point, many people were no doubt watching stunned and wondering if they had just hallucinated Musk’s gesture, but helpfully, he then turned his back and did the same salute to those in the seats behind him.
And yet somehow Gabriel Gatehouse, a seasoned BBC observer of US politics and the far right, played down the moment, as did the great sword-carrying failed Conservative leadership contender Penny Mordaunt. Gatehouse suggested it could be a “Roman salute” and compared it to a cartoon frog that appeared in the 2016 presidential campaign.
Man everywhere I turn there you are running your ignorant mouth again. You know you don’t have to grace us with whatever shit take you have.
You look like super Karen’s to about 80% of the population, but hey you must love Trump & Elon cause all you do is help them win.
Nah I don’t love bigoted fascists but feel free to take a wild swing again if that’s your thing. One less person you’re bugging if I can occupy your time.
Then move on to actual substantive issues & you won’t look like a Karen.
Man Karen jokes are stale as hell. Gonna call me a triggered snowflake next? Troll me with a rick roll?
No. It is the blue MAGA people here that love to throw around the term snowflake.
I worked both of Bernie’s campaigns, dumbass. Got another shit take for me?
Stop trying to make “blue MAGA” a thing. It’s never going to be a thing.
Did I say you were blue MAGA? Are you calling people snowflakes when someone disagrees with you?
That was by far the most pathetic “no u” I’ve ever seen.