Milwaukee Meteorologist Fired After Criticizing Elon Musk's Gesture

Sam Kuffel, a well-known meteorologist at CBS58 in Milwaukee, has lost her job a day after taking to social media to denounce Elon Musk's gesture, which some have deemed reminiscent of a Nazi salute. According to a staff memo from the station’s news director, Jessie Garcia, Kuffel is no longer part of the team, and efforts to find her replacement are currently in progress.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that staff at WDJT-TV received an email notification about Kuffel's termination, and by the afternoon, her profile had been removed from the CBS58 website. Although a representative from Weigel Broadcast Co., which owns CBS58, confirmed Kuffel's departure, they stated that they could not comment further due to the nature of personnel issues.

Kuffel's dismissal came after she joined the chorus of critics who reacted to Musk's controversial gestures during Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony, wherein he raised his arm in a manner many compared to a "Sieg Heil" salute. In her Instagram posts, Kuffel labeled Musk's actions as a "fascist salute," calling out the billionaire directly and expressing her disapproval.

The backlash against Kuffel erupted quickly, particularly from conservative commentators. A local right-wing radio host criticized her posts on social media, ultimately tagging CBS58 in his tweet and drawing attention to the controversy. Following this, Kuffel set her Instagram account to private, coinciding with her comments about the challenges faced by local meteorologists in light of increasing job losses in media.

Afterward, Musk continued to deflect the allegations on his social media platform, mocking critics and refusing to address the claims directly. He even asserted that those accusing him of giving a Nazi salute were resorting to tired tactics. In contrast, the Anti-Defamation League noted that Musk's gesture appeared to be an awkward moment rather than a deliberate salute, advocating for greater understanding from all parties involved.

As news of Kuffel's termination spread, CBS58 faced backlash from viewers who accused the station of bending to pressure from Musk. Critics took to social media to express their dissatisfaction, asserting that firing a meteorologist for their comments about Nazis set a troubling precedent.