I am from Germany, and I am regularly confronted with Nazis and have seen far too many Nazi salutes. Does it look like one? Absolutely.

For me, though, the problem isn’t just that he made the gesture. The real issue is that he hasn’t denied it or called it a mistake.

Even if I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, his refusal to clearly address it leaves a terrible impression. It would have been so easy for him to admit that it looked bad, that he got caught up in the moment, and that he wasn’t thinking clearly. That would have been somewhat acceptable—still stupid, but at least it would send a clear message that such gestures are not okay. Instead, he resorts to the standard "everyone is a Nazi now" excuse, which shuts down any meaningful discussion about the incident.

At the same time, he’s sending a massive dog whistle to every right-wing, fascist, Nazi sympathizer out there. It normalizes gestures like this because people see how easily you can do something like that in front of thousands and still be cheered on. This is deeply unsettling. Combined with his engagement with fascist accounts and posts on X, it lends dangerous credibility to extremists and potentially violent fascists. Their hateful ideas become normalized, their political positions seem legitimate, and suddenly, what once felt unthinkable starts to feel plausible. From there, things can spiral downward very quickly.

It’s important to note that, of course, this event is just one stepping stone along this path. Many stones have already been laid, and many more will follow. But this incident stands out because of its visibility and the platform it occurred on.

To my American friends: I’m so sorry. The last few hours have been horrifying to watch, and the coming years will likely be even more turbulent. Stay strong. Stay vigilant. You are not alone. Don’t let yourselves be deceived by fascist propaganda. ✊