Democratic Senator Cory Booker stirred up controversy among MAGA supporters by making an unusual hand gesture during his speech at a Democratic convention in California.
The senator from New Jersey concluded his speech on Saturday with a gesture where he placed his hand on his heart and then extended his arm toward the crowd. Some remarked that this action unnervingly resembled a Nazi salute.
Richie Greenberg, a San Francisco-based political commentator and former Republican mayoral candidate, was the first to post the footage.
‘Moments ago, Cory Booker salutes 4,000 CA Democrat Party delegates,’ Greenberg wrote dramatically.
Collin Rugg, co-owner of the conservative outlet Trending Politics, quickly spread the incident by sarcastically commenting that he was ‘looking forward to the comprehensive coverage from the ‘honest’ and totally unbiased media.’
Meanwhile, social media influencer Gunther Eagleman furiously declared Booker a ‘straight up NAZI,’ adding ‘WOW’ and ‘HOLY S***!’ to emphasize his outrage.
Right-wing journalist Nick Sortor piled on, labeling Booker ‘literally Hitler’ for the gesture.
The uproar evoked sharp memories of two prior incidents that drew similar outrage – Elon Musk’s controversial gesture during President Donald Trump’s second inauguration earlier this year, and Steve Bannon’s at CPAC just weeks later.
Musk, while addressing Trump supporters at the Capital One Arena in January, had slapped his hand on his chest before thrusting his arm straight out with his palm down, telling the crowd, ‘My heart goes out to you.’
Richie Greenberg, a San Francisco-based political commentator and former Republican mayoral candidate, was the first to post the footage of Booker making the gesture
Elon Musk quickly responded with an eyebrow-raising emoji
Booker had been speaking at the California Democratic Party’s 2025 State Convention at the Anaheim Convention Center
The move, eerily reminiscent of a Nazi salute, ignited an immediate firestorm.
Musk’s response to his own questionable gesture only fanned the flames to haters and detractors on social media.
‘Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ”everyone is Hitler” attack is sooo tired,’ he posted on X at the time.
Hate-monitoring organizations like the Anti-Defamation League urged caution, calling Musk’s gesture ‘awkward’ and asking the public not to leap to conclusions.
At the time, MAGA influencers defended Musk and railed against what they described as faux-outrage from the mainstream media and general public.
Rugg himself argued Musk was ‘excited, awkward, not thinking about how he looks, and trying to show his heart going out to the crowd.’
Popular MAGA X account Libs Of Tiktok, also shared the video of Booker.
At the time of Musk’s salute, the account said the Tesla head ‘was literally motioning “my heart goes out to you.” This is why no one trusts the fake media.’
The following month, Steve Bannon, former White House strategist and host of the influential ‘War Room’ podcast, followed with his own contentious gesture.
During his fiery CPAC speech, Bannon thrust his right arm into the air with a flat palm after shouting, ‘Fight! Fight! Fight!’
Elon Musk made the same controversial gesture during President Donald Trump’s second inauguration earlier this year
The following month, Steve Bannon, former White House strategist and host of the influential ‘War Room’ podcast, followed with his own contentious gesture.
Social media was quick to point out how Democrats were responding to strikingly similar poses
Democratic Senator Cory Booker recently broke the Senate filibuster speech record in a 25-hour, 5-minute rant against the policies of President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk
The backlash for Bannon was swift. French far-right leader Jordan Bardella canceled his scheduled CPAC speech, condemning the gesture as ‘referring to Nazi ideology.’
The Anti-Defamation League also slammed Bannon’s long record of stoking antisemitism writing, ‘We are not surprised, but are concerned about the normalization of this behavior.’
Bannon dismissed the criticism saying that it was merely a ‘wave’ – a gesture he said he’d made at countless rallies.
Booker’s office has yet to comment on the gesture.
Booker, who recently broke the Senate filibuster speech record by talking for 25 hours and five minutes had been riding a wave of positive attention.
His marathon speech, protesting Trump and invoking ‘good trouble’ in honor of the late John Lewis, had solidified his standing among Democratic voters.
According to a new AtlasIntel poll, Booker now ranks fourth among potential 2028 Democratic presidential contenders, behind Pete Buttigieg, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Kamala Harris.
‘When you’re a public figure at the highest echelons of power, doing a salute like that—accidental or not—is extraordinarily disturbing and calls for an explanation,’ said Brian Levin, founder of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Booker’s office for comment.
