CNN Launches New Trump Hoax Just Hours Into His Term, Gets Immediately Shut Down

A new Trump administration means CNN will be doubling its efforts to find new, creative ways to accuse the president and his supporters of harboring the ideals of Germany’s Third Reich.

Network anchors on Monday suggested Elon Musk intended to give a Nazi salute when speaking before Trump’s inauguration rally the prior night. On repeat, the hosts played a tape of the Tesla founder and “first buddy” casting his right hand over his chest before extending his hand and facing his palm downward.

“It was quick,” declared Erin Burnett before turning it over to her colleague, waiting for her to state what they both were thinking. “I think our viewers are smart, and they can take a look at that,” she replied. “It’s not something that you typically see at American political rallies.”

President-elect Donald Trump has been called every name in the book, and comparisons to Adolf Hitler are nothing new. When he held an October rally at Madison Square Garden, critics seized on the opportunity to compare his event to one held there by an American offshoot of the Nazi Party in 1939.

Popular X influencer Collin Rugg shared the context of Musk’s gesture, which came while he thanked the crowd for electing Trump. “Thank you,” said Musk before doing so. “My heart goes out to you. It is thanks to you that the future of civilization is assured.”

Musk’s “moment of intensity,” as Burnett called it, included a full round of dance moves and fist-pumping to excite the Washington, D.C. crowd. In many ways, he has become the face of the administration’s MAGA base, an ever-present shadow of Trump who serves as a direct feed carrying the sentiments of his millions of supporters.

Shortly after CNN’s coverage, Musk responded directly, quoting a follower who called Burnett’s suggestion of a Nazi salute the latest salvo in the network’s “dirty tricks campaign” against Trump.

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“Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The “everyone is Hitler” attack is sooo tired,” Musk said, quoting the post and adding a sleeping emoji.

Andrea Stoppa, a close confidant of Musk, later explained, “That gesture, which some mistook for a Nazi salute, is simply Elon, who has autism, expressing his feelings by saying, ‘I want to give my heart to you’,” he said.

“That is exactly what he communicated into the microphone. ELON DISLIKES EXTREMISTS!”

The Anti-Defamation League also came to Musk’s defense, telling Americans to tone down the Nazi comparisons on Trump’s first day in office.

“It seems that Elon Musk made an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute,” the group posted on X.