The Associated Press claims to bring "fact-based, nonpartisan information to the world." Fact check? Pants On Fire.
On Tuesday, AP political reporter Steve Peoples wrote a piece all about circulating the Democrat talking points, but pitched as a losing-party narrative, Democrats struggling with all of Trump's opening flurry of executive orders. The headline was "Democrats struggle to pick their message against Trump’s shock-and-awe campaign." Peoples eagerly circulated the phony argument that Elon Musk gave "multiple Nazi salutes," even if "hate watchdogs" aren't really buying it. It's a hoax.
For now, the Democratic establishment is largely focused on the prominent role of billionaires in Trump’s nascent presidency, which follows Biden’s farewell warning about the rise of oligarchs.
The DNC shared talking points with its allies on Tuesday, encouraging them to focus on “Trump’s plans to screw over America.” Specifically, the talking points focus on the new president’s move to rescind a Biden order designed to limit the cost of prescription drugs.
The DNC guidance also seizes on ultra-wealthy tech executives like Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and Space X, and Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon and Blue Origin, who were seated in front of some of Trump’s Cabinet picks during his inauguration. On Musk, the talking points accuse him of giving multiple Nazi salutes during Trump’s inauguration parade.
Right-wing extremists are celebrating Musk’s straight-arm gesture during a speech Monday, although his intention wasn’t totally clear and some hate watchdogs are saying not to read too much into it.
AP also published an obnoxious story headlined “Musk’s straight-arm gesture embraced by right-wing extremists regardless of what he meant” . Bernard Condon began with this same line about "hate watchdogs":
NEW YORK (AP) — Right-wing extremists are celebrating Elon Musk’s straight-arm gesture during a speech Monday, although his intention wasn’t totally clear and some hate watchdogs are saying not to read too much into it.
At least in this case, AP reported the fact of what Musk was saying: "I just want to say thank you for making it happen," followed by putting his hand on his heart and putting his arm out: "My heart goes out to you." Then Condon listed "extremists" enjoying it on social media:
“The White Flame will rise again,” a chapter of the white nationalist group White Lives Matter posted on Telegram.
“Maybe woke really is dead,” white nationalist Keith Woods posted on X.
“Did Elon Musk just Heil Hitler ...” right-wing commentator Evan Kilgore posted on X. “We are so back.”
I couldn't find that last tweet on Evan Kilgore's page at X. This was a Musk tweet I found:
If you believe that @elonmusk did a Nazi salute and don't believe that the gesture he did was out of excitement and autism, then YOU are the one who is actually retarded.
— Evan Kilgore 🇺🇸 (@EvanAKilgore) January 21, 2025
The "fact-based" AP reporter looks like he's just quoting from the X page of Trump-despising cartoonist Clay "Claytoonz" Jones instead, since these are his three quotes. No checking your facts?
White nationalists think it was a Nazi salute.
— Clay Jones (@claytoonz) January 22, 2025
“The White Flame will rise again" White Lives Matter (on Telegram)
“Maybe woke really is dead” white nationalist @KeithWoodsYT
“Did Elon Musk just Heil Hitler? We are so back" right-wing commentator @EvanAKilgore
Condon acknowledged the Anti-Defamation League and leftist "extremism" expert Jared Holt threw cold water on the Musk-Hitler allusions. But this is how the allegedly "fact-based" story ends, with a leftist who "studies extremism":
Kurt Braddock, a professor of communication at American University who studies extremism, radicalization and terrorism, said the gesture was a fascist salute and “people shouldn’t doubt what they saw.”
“I know what I saw, I know what the response to it was among elements of the extreme right including neo-Nazis, Braddock said. “And none of it is a laughing matter.”
