French Far-Right Leader Withdraws from CPAC After Bannon's Gesture
Jordan Bardella cancels speech due to alleged Nazi salute by Steve Bannon at Conservative Political Action Conference.
Attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) witnessed a controversial incident involving Steve Bannon, a former advisor to Donald Trump, who allegedly made a gesture resembling a Nazi salute during a speech.
This incident prompted Jordan Bardella, president of the French far-right National Rally (RN) party, to cancel his planned appearance.
Bardella made the announcement on February 21, 2025, citing a 'gesture alluding to Nazi ideology' as the reason for his withdrawal.
The incident occurred on the evening of February 20, where Bannon, who has been a prominent figure in American conservative politics and played a significant role in Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, raised his arm with the palm down while urging the audience to 'fight, fight, fight.' In response to Bardella's cancellation, Bannon expressed his displeasure, labeling the French politician as 'a little boy' and questioning his suitability for leadership in France.
Bannon characterized his own gesture as a well-known 'wave' he often uses at events rather than a salute.
Bardella, who took over leadership of the National Rally in 2022, was invited to speak on the relationship between the United States and France and the electoral dynamics among patriot parties in Europe.
In his statement, Bardella underscored that he had been absent when Bannon made the gesture but felt compelled to cancel his appearance in response to what he described as a provocative display.
Bannon, who has frequently been embroiled in controversies, had previously spent nearly four months in federal prison for contempt of Congress related to the 2021 Capitol attack.
He defended his actions, stating he had used the same hand gesture at a previous event in France seven years prior and criticized Bardella for reacting to media interpretations rather than the actual speech.
The escalating nature of political discourse and gesture interpretation in the contemporary setting reflects broader tensions within nationalist movements across Europe, especially as the National Rally has been working to rebrand its image following past accusations of anti-Semitism.
The party achieved a record number of parliamentary seats in recent elections, signaling its growing influence.
Le Pen's anticipated run for the presidency in the 2027 elections further underscores the party's prominence in French politics.
The Anti-Defamation League noted Bannon's troubling history of fostering antisemitism and did not specifically address the recent gesture but expressed ongoing concern regarding the normalization of such behaviors in political rhetoric.
This incident prompted Jordan Bardella, president of the French far-right National Rally (RN) party, to cancel his planned appearance.
Bardella made the announcement on February 21, 2025, citing a 'gesture alluding to Nazi ideology' as the reason for his withdrawal.
The incident occurred on the evening of February 20, where Bannon, who has been a prominent figure in American conservative politics and played a significant role in Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, raised his arm with the palm down while urging the audience to 'fight, fight, fight.' In response to Bardella's cancellation, Bannon expressed his displeasure, labeling the French politician as 'a little boy' and questioning his suitability for leadership in France.
Bannon characterized his own gesture as a well-known 'wave' he often uses at events rather than a salute.
Bardella, who took over leadership of the National Rally in 2022, was invited to speak on the relationship between the United States and France and the electoral dynamics among patriot parties in Europe.
In his statement, Bardella underscored that he had been absent when Bannon made the gesture but felt compelled to cancel his appearance in response to what he described as a provocative display.
Bannon, who has frequently been embroiled in controversies, had previously spent nearly four months in federal prison for contempt of Congress related to the 2021 Capitol attack.
He defended his actions, stating he had used the same hand gesture at a previous event in France seven years prior and criticized Bardella for reacting to media interpretations rather than the actual speech.
The escalating nature of political discourse and gesture interpretation in the contemporary setting reflects broader tensions within nationalist movements across Europe, especially as the National Rally has been working to rebrand its image following past accusations of anti-Semitism.
The party achieved a record number of parliamentary seats in recent elections, signaling its growing influence.
Le Pen's anticipated run for the presidency in the 2027 elections further underscores the party's prominence in French politics.
The Anti-Defamation League noted Bannon's troubling history of fostering antisemitism and did not specifically address the recent gesture but expressed ongoing concern regarding the normalization of such behaviors in political rhetoric.
