A Milwaukee meteorologist has lost her job after criticizing Elon Musk online, following a viral controversy over a gesture he made at a public event. The local TV station, CBS58, confirmed that Sam Kuffel was no longer employed just a day after she posted strong remarks against Musk.
The situation unfolded when Musk, now leading the Department of Government Efficiency, attended an event at Capital One Arena after Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th U.S. President. During the gathering, he made a gesture—placing a hand on his chest and then raising his arm—which many online users compared to a Nazi salute. The reaction was swift, with some accusing him of making an inappropriate historical reference.
Kuffel took to Instagram to criticize Musk, posting a picture of the moment and writing, “Dude Nazi saluted twice. TWO TIMES. At the inauguration.” She followed up with a strongly worded post, making her stance clear. She also reinforced her disapproval in another post using a GIF from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, calling Musk an offensive term.
Dan O’Donnell, a conservative radio host, quickly condemned Kuffel’s comments, describing her language as inappropriate and accusing her of pushing misinformation about Musk’s actions.
CBS58’s news director, Jessie Garcia, confirmed Kuffel’s termination in an internal email, saying the station was now looking for a new meteorologist. Kuffel had been a part of the CBS58 team for over five years, previously working at WAOW-TV in Wausau after completing her degree at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee in 2016.
The controversy surrounding Musk’s gesture caught the attention of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), which issued a statement urging calm. They acknowledged the sensitivity of the matter but clarified that Musk’s movement appeared to be an awkward moment rather than an intentional salute. The ADL encouraged people to approach the situation with understanding rather than outrage.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also came to Musk’s defense, stating that he was being unfairly accused.
The incident has fueled ongoing discussions about how media professionals handle political discourse on social media and the potential consequences of their public statements.
