Cory Booker Responds to Controversial Gesture at Democratic Convention
New Jersey Senator Cory Booker is under fire after making a gesture during a speech at the California Democratic Convention that some critics likened to a Nazi salute. The moment—where Booker placed his hand over his heart and extended it outward—was captured on video and quickly went viral, drawing comparisons to a similar gesture made by Elon Musk at Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Right-wing commentators and social media users accused Booker of hypocrisy, pointing to the backlash Musk received for a nearly identical motion. Influencers like Richie Greenberg and Nick Sortor labeled the gesture “a Nazi salute,” while others called out what they saw as a media double standard.
Booker’s team swiftly responded, calling the accusations “absurd and offensive.” In a statement, a spokesperson said, “Senator Booker was expressing gratitude to the crowd with a heartfelt gesture. Any attempt to equate that with hateful symbolism is a gross distortion.”
Supporters echoed that sentiment, arguing the gesture was clearly a benign expression of thanks. Still, the incident has reignited debate over the interpretation of public gestures and the role of political bias in media coverage.
Listen as Ryan and Dana discuss this and other trending stories on today's podcast.