Far-Right Theatrics and the Nazi Salute
It is often said that those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. History repeats everyday whether or not we mean for it to. However, there is a general agreement amongst humanity that we shall not repeat historical events of extreme loss of life, extreme political power, and extreme war. The ideals of these events are damaging to our history as humans.
There are many events we seem to agree are despicable and evil. Wars, genocides, deadly political conflicts, and acts of terrorism. These moments are marked by unimaginable destruction and death. The ideals of these events are often viewed as inhuman and in general, the time period’s clothing, gestures and speech are done away with and future generations are taught about past wrongs. One of the most notable of these inhuman periods is that of the Nazi party in early 1900s Germany, marked by particularly taboo symbolism and gestures. But if this is a universal truth, then it poses the question: Why is the GOP obsessed with doing the Nazi salute?
Let us start by acknowledging that members of the GOP such as Elon Musk, Steve Bannon and Darrell Leon McClanahan (a hopeful Republican candidate for Missouri governor), have in fact done a Nazi Salute during their careers. Supporters of MAGA have attempted to label the right arm extended, palm down gesture a Roman Salute, but this does not make the gesture acceptable. Even the Roman Salute has a history as dangerous political rhetoric, adopted by Italian Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini in 1922. Adolf Hitler would later adopt the salute from Mussolini and history would remember the salute under the Nazi name and symbolism.
The History
The Roman Salute first appeared in France during the French Revolution. The salute was used by revolutionary French Republicans, who looked to frame the French government as a revival of the Roman Republic. But there is no historical proof that the Romans did the Roman Salute themselves. The only evidence that the Romans may have used this gesture are paintings created in the 1700s of ancient Roman scenes. In other words: an artist's interpretation of what Ancient Rome and the people might have been like.
The Nazi or Roman Salute is notably similar to the Bellamy Salute, a gesture created in the United States in 1892 to celebrate Columbus Day in the states. The Bellamy Salute includes the extension of the right arm full hand pointing up towards the American flag, and was seen as a way to honor the flag. The use of the Bellamy Salute would continue in use, including gestures at the 1936 Olympics, but was quickly done away with as Hitler rose to power. The Bellamy Salute was quickly done away with and replaced with the right hand over your heart.
Current Use
If the U.S. has done everything possible to separate ourselves from Nazism and the Holocaust, why do the elected (and unelected) officials running the country continue to do the Nazi salute? On January 20th of this year during President Trump’s Inauguration, Elon Musk shocked viewers when he tapped his left shoulder with his right arm before throwing it out, with a downward facing palm, to the crowd during a speech at Washington D.C.’s Capital One Arena. On social media, many called out Musk for the obscene gesture, but others defended him, saying that Musk’s autism may have caused him to break such strict social norms. However, autistic creators such as @wonder_autism on TikTok challenged the narrative saying, “You know what isn’t just a thing that autistic people do? Nazi salutes, because what the f**k?”
Others within the GOP have since used the salute, including Steven Bannon. Bannon is a former White House Chief Strategist and has remained a loyal MAGA follower throughout Trump’s second presidency. Bannon was observed doing the salute back in February of 2025 at the Conservative Political Action Conference, during a speech where Bannon encouraged the crowd to “Fight, Fight, Fight!” Bannon claimed that he was merely doing a wave to those in attendance, but many observers saw Bannon’s actions as another GOP member and supporter of Trump adopting the infamous Nazi salute.
Earlier last year, Darrell Leon McClanahan, a 2024 Republican hopeful for the Missouri governor seat, was revealed to be an “honorary” member of the KKK. Two photos from 2019 show McClanahan between two party leaders of the Knight Party, a political party notoriously affiliated with the KKK. One photo shows McClanahan standing between the leaders, holding some type of pamphlet. The other shows McClanahan and an unnamed person dressed in the KKK white outfit. Both are doing the Nazi Salute as a cross burns behind them. Missouri originally worked to remove McClanahan from the race for governor. However, in May of 2024, a judge determined that McClanahan had the right to run for the position and his name would appear on Missouri ballots. Still, McClanahan would lose the race to fellow Republican Mike Kehoe.
Just a Gesture?
The use of the Nazi Salute by the far-right has long existed. The KKK utilizes the salute as a way to signal their agreement with Hitler’s pure race ideology. However, the use of the Nazi Salute by GOP politicians appears to be a more recent development.
What many may be stunned to learn is that the KKK was founded in direct opposition to the Republican Party. In the 1860s and 1870s Republicans looked to a reconstruction-ist era. This was seen as a threat to the way of life White Southerners had become adept to. The GOP and the KKK have a closer relationship now as far-right ideals bleed into the party. GOP politicians today appear to have more far-right, religion led, purist ways of thinking. The KKK and the current iteration of GOP politicians share many harmful beliefs that President Trump supports through his policies and promises.
The use of the Nazi Salute to show support for President Trump and his administration dates back to 2016, during his first term. In his first term, President Trump was smart enough to stay away from a few more radical policies. The country was coming off of two terms with former president Barack Obama and radical change seemed further from reach. However, President Trump quickly realized his supporters would believe almost anything he said and would allow deeply problematic actions to slide. President Trump and his administration have since created a world in which they act as if rules do not apply to them, and in which GOP politicians and members of the party believe a fascist gesture is inconsequential.
This Administration
The salute will always be dangerous and unacceptable, and with it coming from millionaires and billionaires in front of crowds of political fans , there is even more cause for concern. Whether we like it or not, these people – a majority of them GOP-affiliated men – run our country. As of March 16, 2025 Musk is still the richest man in the world, worth 320 billion US dollars and currently runs DOGE, Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency. Secondly, prominent voices in the right wing sphere, like Bannon, are known to spread conspiracy theories, and give cause to the dangerous thoughts of those who are paranoid or believe a number of harmful ideologies. While McClanahan may have not won his bid for the seat of Missouri government, the very existence of his campaign is cause for concern. Many with extremist ideologies run for positions of power within our government, and many go unchecked in doing so. These men hold extreme political power and have immense access to the leader of our country, Donald Trump.
President Donald Trump himself seemingly shares the beliefs of Bannon and Musk. Back in 2020, C-SPAN published a clip from a user of President Trump doing a Nazi Salute while giving a speech, however it is highly debated whether this gesture was an actual salute. Still, support for those who use the Nazi salute as a political gesture makes the President complicit, at the very least. The repeated use of the salute creates a dangerous narrative: there is no punishment for dangerous and racist behavior amongst our government officials. In Germany, Nazism is illegal. Last week in Poland, an Israeli teenager was arrested and fined for doing the Nazi Salute at Auschwitz. Much of the world agrees with the slogan “Never Again”, now extending the saying further with “Never Again Means Never Again For Anyone.” On the global stage, Nazism is unacceptable. But within the American GOP, this is not the case.
President Trump and his administration claim to love the Jewish people and fight antisemitism, but then utilize the gestures of the very group that took six million Jewish lives. The salute is one of many presidential and political actions from the GOP that have led Americans to protest the current administration. As of March 16th 2025, NBC found that 51% of a sample of 1,000 registered voters disapprove of President Trump and his current administration.
If there was ever a time to utilize our First Amendment rights it is now, but not to salute this administration. Peacefully assemble (and protest), talk, speak out, write, sing, gather, VOTE! Our leaders represent us on the world stage, and it is our duty to ensure that we are not only represented fairly but that our leaders have basic levels of humanity. The time for change is now, do not be afraid to tell those who utilize a harmful and hateful salute that Gen-Z is willing to hold them accountable.