

Sam Kuffel, CBS 58 weather reporter fired criticizing Elon Musk on Instagram following controversial hand gesture ‘Nazi’ salute during Donald Trump rally. Debate ensues.
A local meteorologist for Milwaukee’s CBS affiliate was fired from her job after she posted criticism on social media denouncing Elon Musk as a ‘Nazi’ following the outspoken Donald Trump supporter’s controversial arm gesture during a rally for the President-elect.
Sam Kuffel, the weather reporter for CBS 58, was sacked by the station a day after she posted two items on her Instagram page condemning Musk’s actions in which video showed him seemingly, not once but twice saluting in the form of a Nazi salute with an outstretched arm and angled hand.
In one post, Kuffel commented on an image of Musk at the podium, writing: ‘Dude Nazi saluted twice. TWICE. During the inauguration.’
Leftist activists conveniently cut the clip when Elon said “my heart goes out to you” which shows what Elon was expressing.
This is why they lost. They still don’t get it. pic.twitter.com/HyfouqlcXv
— World Hall Of Fun (@WorldHallOfFun) January 21, 2025
Elon Musk a Nazi salute? Debate ensues
Adding, ‘You f–k with this and this man, I don’t f–k with you. Full stop.’
Kuffel then posted a GIF from popular TV show, ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ along with the caption: ‘Screw that old b—h. He’s a Nazi.’
Response by the weather reporter’s employer was swift. And unforgiving.
‘Meteorologist Sam Kuffel is no longer employed at CBS58,’ CBS 58 news director Jessie Garcia wrote to staffers in a memo that was obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Adding, ‘A search for a replacement is underway.’
A representative of Weigel Broadcasting Co., the company that owns the station, confirmed the dismissal in an emailed statement to the Journal Sentinel on Wednesday.
The gesture led to the Anti-Defamation League calling Musk’s salute an ‘awkward gesture,’ while others agreed with Kuffel.
‘Strongman’ author Ruth Ben-Ghiat tweeted, ‘Historian of fascism here. That was a Nazi salute – and a very belligerent one too.’
Kuffel’s post critical of Musk was spotted on Tuesday by Dan O’Donnell, a conservative radio host, who wrote on X: ‘CBS 58 meteorologist Sam Kuffel makes a pair of vulgar Instagram posts while spreading the lie that Elon Musk was giving a Nazi salute during yesterday’s Presidential Inauguration.’
O’Donnell added that Musk said ‘my heart goes out to you’ when he made his gesture.
Supporters of Kuffel were quick to respond on social media, with one user writing on X: ‘Shame on @CBS58 for firing Sam Kuffel for naming @elonmusk’s Nazi salute. Shame on @DanODonnellShow for mobilizing trolls to harass her & call for her job. This dark chapter of our country’s history will eventually be over and we’ll all remember who showed integrity & who didn’t.’
Elon Musk absolutely made a Nazi salute. It’s identical to the salute being made by Blood Tribe Nazis at this rally in 2024. I hope this reporter, Sam Kuffel, sues the station and wins. pic.twitter.com/ECy2F4Pdca
— Jay Brittenham (@jay_brittenham) January 23, 2025
Elon Musk troubling behavior
Another user wrote: ‘Elon Musk absolutely made a Nazi salute. It’s identical to the salute being made by Blood Tribe Nazis at this rally in 2024. I hope this reporter, Sam Kuffel, sues the station and wins.’
But there might be more to the story that may have led to a short ignition stick being launched.
Kuffel, who has worked at local stations in the Wisconsin area since graduating from college in 2016, made headlines this past fall when she accused Fox Sports NFL sideline reporter Erin Andrews of fabricating a weather alert during a Packers-Lions game in Green Bay.
‘Begging Erin Andrews to stop making up weather alerts,’ Kuffel said in a since-deleted post on X, adding, ‘stuff like this makes me irrationally angry.’
Andrews sent a message to the meteorologist, writing on X, ‘hey Sam! Just saw the story [about] your tweet,’ Andrews wrote. ‘Let me know the best way to touch base. Wanted to show you where Fox security (working the game) and I got our Weather Alert for the Packers game! Thx!!’
Musk defended the one-armed gesture he gave during President Trump’s inauguration — arguing what he decried as the ‘left-wingers’ who accused him of giving a Nazi salute ‘need better dirty tricks.’
Trick question, was it only the ‘left wingers’ and Democrat voters who were troubled and puzzled by the billionaire and effective right hand man of Donald Trump making the controversial gesture? Or was simply the overzealous behavior of a $250 million Trump donor (which is probably more troubling) or the behavior of someone struggling with Ausperger syndrome?
‘Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired,’ Musk, 53, said in a post on X as he addressed the backlash.
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Play stupid games as a billionaire get to keep your influence and multi-billions and your front row seat influence on the new administration – which is assuredly the more troubling and brazen behavior of a political supporter.
Share controversial posts on your private social media account expressing moral outrage. Be prepared to lose your job as a journalist for legacy corporate media …as the latest media entrant expressing fealty to America’s new overlords.
Kuffel’s Instagram account has since been changed to private …