Jordan Bardella Cancels CPAC Speech after Steve Bannon’s Nazi Gesture
Jordan Bardella, leader of the French far-right National Rally party, has canceled his scheduled speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington, D.C., after Steve Bannon, a former adviser to Donald Trump, made a Nazi gesture at the podium hours earlier.
Bardella’s Statement
In a statement, Bardella expressed his disgust at Bannon’s actions:
"Yesterday at this conference, while I was not present in the room, one of the speakers made a provocative gesture that referenced Nazi ideology. Consequently, I made the immediate decision to cancel my planned address this afternoon at the event."
Bardella went on to say that "the presence of such individuals" at CPAC is "incompatible with the values of my party." He added that he remains committed to fighting for "freedom, democracy, and the rule of law."
Bannon’s Gesture
Bannon’s gesture was a replication of one made by Elon Musk on January 20, the day of Trump’s inauguration. "We are not going to take it anymore, we are not going to back down, we are not going to give up. Fight! Fight! Fight!" Bannon exclaimed from the podium, before making the gesture.
CPAC Attendees
CPAC, a major gathering of conservative and far-right figures, is set to conclude on Saturday with a speech by Donald Trump. Other prominent speakers include Argentine politician Javier Milei, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who will address the conference virtually.
Republican Support
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance addressed the conference on Thursday morning, praising the Trump administration’s first month in office for its executive orders and other initiatives. "Hard to believe we’ve only been in power for a month, because I think we’ve done more in a month than [Joe] Biden did in four years," Vance declared.
Reactions
Bannon’s gesture was widely condemned by both Democrats and Republicans. President Biden called it "sickening" and "reprehensible." Republican Senator Mitt Romney said it was "hateful and disgusting."
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said that Bannon’s actions "normalized white supremacy." He added that CPAC should "unequivocally condemn" such behavior.
Wider Implications
The incident has raised concerns about the growing influence of far-right extremism in the United States and abroad. Some experts warn that the normalization of such behavior could lead to violence and further divisions within society.
The cancellation of Bardella’s speech is a sign that some conservative leaders are unwilling to tolerate overt displays of extremism. However, it remains to be seen whether CPAC and other conservative organizations will take meaningful steps to address the problem.
