Latest news with #inauguration
News.com.au
20 hours ago
- General
- News.com.au
New ‘Nazi salute' furore erupts in US as Democrat is accused of making the same gesture as Elon Musk
Remember that moment, back in January, when Elon Musk was accused of doing a 'Nazi salute' on stage? The Tesla and SpaceX boss, riding high on his own supply after spending hundreds of millions of dollars to help Donald Trump get elected the previous year, got a little too excited after the US President's inauguration, and made a strange gesture. Mr Musk brought his right hand to his heart and then, with force, thrust it up and out to his side. He then turned and did the same thing towards the people seated behind him. Mr Musk paired it with a message of, 'my heart goes out to you,' which suggested he was, albeit clumsily, gesturing as though he were sending his heart out to the audience. Well, more like biffing it at them. Still, it was not the sort of gesture any of us see in our daily lives, and it bore a striking resemblance to a sinister one from the past, and it was enacted with a strange aggression. So those predisposed to believe the worst of Mr Musk did so. The hostile reactions ranged from believing it was a straight-up, intentional Nazi salute, to believing it was merely intended as a piece of trolling, to thinking it looked like a Nazi salute, but only by accident. Mr Musk didn't necessarily help himself by refraining from offering a clear explanation of what he meant by the gesture until days afterwards. 'Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The 'everyone is Hitler' attack is sooo tired,' Mr Musk said in his first response. Later, he complained about media coverage of the moment. 'How many legacy media publications, talk shows, whatever, try to claim that I was a Nazi because of some random hand gesture at a rally where all I said was that my heart goes out to you?' he told CNBC. Mr Musk's gesture happened more than four months ago now, yet it lives on, particularly on the more extreme wings of American politics. On the left, it's still occasionally brought up as evidence that Mr Musk is some sort of fascist. The billionaire didn't help himself, in that regard, by lobbying so enthusiastically for Germany's far-right AfD party before the nation's most recent election. There's something much more substantive to critique, there, than an awkward hand gesture. On the right, a great deal of fun has been had perusing every Democratic politician's body movements since January 21, in search of anything that could be characterised as a parallel to Mr Musk's gesture, and hence a flagrant example of hypocrisy. Enter Cory Booker. He's a Democratic Senator from New Jersey, and a former (perhaps also future) failed presidential candidate. Over the weekend Mr Booker attended a party convention in Anaheim, California. At one point, during his time on stage, he performed a gesture similar to Mr Musk's. He started by bringing his right hand to his chest, and then extended the arm in a wave to the crowd. Here is how the still images of those moments look, side-by-side. And while you can watch the footage of each in the player at the top of this article, I'll pop that video here too. So, the upshot is, elements of the American right have accused the media of hypocrisy for reporting on one of these gestures, but not really on the other. 'You reported on Elon's hand gesture and compared him to a Nazi. I was looking for your article on Cory Booker's salute, but I couldn't find it,' Libs of TikTok account runner Chaya Raichik tweeted at MSNBC. 'I'm sure you probably just missed this story by mistake. Here's the clip. I look forward to your report condemning him.' 'Democrat Senator Cory Booker appears to do a 'Nazi' salute in front of a large crowd of Democrats. I'm looking forward to the wall to wall coverage from the 'honest' and totally not biased media,' said another right-wing influencer, Colin Rugg. 'Same gesture, different political party. Funny how that works,' said activist Brandon Straka, joking (sarcastically) that Mr Booker was 'giving a heartfelt, patriotic salute' while Mr Musk was 'personally resurrecting the Third Reich, according to the media'. 'Cory Booker gives the exact same 'Nazi' salute to 4000 California Democrat Party delegates that the left has been screeching about Elon Musk doing for at least 130 days. I look forward to hearing all about how this is (D)ifferent,' said Kevin Dalton. The (D) being a reference to Mr Booker being a Democrat. 'I look forward to Senator Chris Murphy asking Cory Booker about doing the 'heil Hitler salute' like he did about Elon,' said Sara Rose. We could keep going; there is no shortage of similar examples. Mr Musk himself reposted a clip of Mr Booker's gesture with a raised eyebrow emoji. 'It's hilariously ironic to see the ret**ds who called Elon Musk a Nazi for a gesture doing the same thing,' the post he shared read. A spokeswoman for Mr Booker, Maya Krishna-Rogers, has said the Senator was 'obviously just waving to the crowd'. 'Anyone who claims his wave is the same as Elon Musk's gesture is operating in bad faith. The differences between the two are obvious to anyone without an agenda.'
Bloomberg
26-05-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Mark Zuckerberg Loves MAGA Now. Will MAGA Ever Love Him Back?
In early February, Mark Zuckerberg boarded his Gulfstream G650 for a trip to Washington, DC—a cross-country route he was flying with newfound frequency. After years on the outs, the chief executive officer of Meta Platforms Inc. had regained something valuable he'd lost: direct access to the president. Since November, Zuckerberg had already had a string of postelection get-togethers with Donald Trump. He'd made multiple trips to Mar-a-Lago in Florida, and he'd sat in the Capitol Rotunda with other tech executives when the president-elect took the oath of office in January. Meta had also donated $1 million to the inauguration, and Zuckerberg co-hosted a black-tie reception that evening in Trump's honor. In a sign that he plans to spend more time in Washington, Zuckerberg in March purchased a $23 million mansion just paces from Vice President JD Vance's residence at the Naval Observatory.
CBS News
24-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Ecuador President Daniel Noboa sworn in for second term, vows to fight drug trafficking, violent crime
QUITO – Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa was officially sworn in on Saturday following his reelection for another four-year term early this year. Noboa, 37, who wore a presidential sash over his chest, was sworn in alongside his Vice President María José Pinto, and their terms will run until May 2029. The young president, who has become known for his fight against a surge of armed group violence in the South American country, pledged in his inauguration speech to continue to tackle corruption, drug trafficking and violent crime. He also swore to implement reforms and said he would lay "a solid foundation for job creation and investment" by working with Ecuador's private sector. "We are at the doorstep of four years of progress," he said. The ceremony in the capital, Quito, was attended by Health Secretary Robert Kennedy, Colombian President Gustavo Petro, Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, and many other international guests and delegates. A U.S. intelligence assessment completed before the election concluded that a win for Noboa against challenger Luisa González would better serve U.S. interests over the next four years. The Trump administration has been mulling over establishing a permanent U.S. military presence in the South American country. Noboa was first elected as president in November 2023 at age 35, with little political experience. He unexpectedly entered the race and was elected to complete the term of his predecessor, Guillermo Lasso, who had dissolved the Assembly and stepped down to avoid impeachment. QUITO, ECUADOR - MAY 24: President of Ecuador Daniel Noboa and his wife, Lavinia Valbonesi leaves the National Assembly building after the presidential inauguration on May 24, 2025 in Quito, Ecuador. Agencia Press South / Getty Images Noboa was re-elected on April 13 in a run-off against left-wing candidate Luisa González, who has made repeated allegations of electoral fraud. Her Citizen Revolution party, led by former president Rafael Correa, boycotted Saturday's ceremony, even though González claims were rejected by Ecuador's electoral authority and both national and international observers. Violence and high unemployment levels remain the biggest challenges facing the president and his National Democratic Action party, which was also able to hold the majority in the country's congress through a number of political alliances. Maintaining that majority will be crucial for Noboa in pushing through his agenda, including a crime-fighting bill marked as "urgent" for its economic implications. The proposal has already drawn criticism from the opposition. Juan Francisco Camino, a professor at the Equinoctial Technological University, said Noboa's tight majority could easily shift the balance. "Just one lost vote from his allies could paralyze his plans," Camino said in an interview. Asked whether Noboa might change his governing approach in this new term, Camino predicted continuity, especially with the government's focus on using state power to fight crime, which he said "sells legitimacy." Ecuador is one of the most dangerous countries in the region, with around 8,000 violent deaths by the end of 2024 and crime continuing to rise in 2025. Last year, masked men broke onto the set of a public television channel in Ecuador, waving guns and explosives during a live broadcast and the president issued a decree declaring that the country had entered an "internal armed conflict." Camino stressed that Noboa must "look beyond security" and focus on rebuilding Ecuador's social fabric, especially in areas like jobs, healthcare, and education. Others said it was important to focus on root causes of violence, like lack of opportunities which often pushes young people to join criminal groups. Only 33% of Ecuadorians had full-time jobs as of late last year, with the rest working in the informal economy. contributed to this report.
CTV News
24-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Ecuador's Noboa vows to tackle violence, boost economy and create jobs in second term
Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa acknowledges supporters from the balcony of the presidential palace after his swearing-in ceremony for a second term in Quito, Ecuador, Saturday, May 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Carlos Noriega) QUITO — Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa was officially sworn in on Saturday following his reelection for another four-year term early this year. Noboa, 37, who wore a presidential sash over his chest, was sworn in alongside his Vice President María José Pinto and their terms will run until May 2029. The young president, who has become known for his fight against a surge of armed group violence in the South American country, pledged in his inauguration speech to continue to tackle corruption, drug trafficking and violent crime. He also swore to implement reforms and said he would lay 'a solid foundation for job creation and investment' by working with Ecuador's private sector. 'We are at the doorstep of four years of progress,' he said. The ceremony in the capital, Quito, was attended by U.S. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy, Colombia's President Gustavo Petro, Peruvian President Dina Boluarte, and many other international guests and delegates. Noboa was first elected as president in November 2023 aged 35, with little political experience. He unexpectedly entered the race and was elected to complete the term of his predecessor, Guillermo Lasso, who had dissolved the Assembly and stepped down to avoid impeachment. Noboa was re-elected on April 13 in a run-off against left-wing candidate Luisa González, who has made repeated allegations of electoral fraud. Her Citizen Revolution party, lead by former president Rafael Correa, boycotted Saturday's ceremony, even though González claims were rejected by Ecuador's electoral authority and both national and international observers. Violence and high unemployment levels remain the biggest challenges facing the president and his National Democratic Action (ADN) party, which also was able to hold the majority in the country's congress through a number of political alliances. Maintaining that majority will be crucial for Noboa in pushing through his agenda, including a crime-fighting bill marked as 'urgent' for its economic implications. The proposal has already drawn criticism from the opposition. Juan Francisco Camino, a professor at the Equinoctial Technological University, said Noboa's tight majority could easily shift the balance. 'Just one lost vote from his allies could paralyze his plans,' Camino said in an interview. Asked whether Noboa might change his governing approach in this new term, Camino predicted continuity, especially with the government's focus on using state power to fight crime, which he said 'sells legitimacy.' Ecuador is one of the most dangerous countries in the region, with around 8,000 violent deaths by the end of 2024 and crime continuing to rise in 2025. Camino stressed that Noboa must 'look beyond security' and focus on rebuilding Ecuador's social fabric, especially in areas like jobs, healthcare, and education. Others said it was important to focus on root causes of violence, like lack of opportunities which often pushes young people to join criminal groups. Only 33 per cent of Ecuadorians had full-time jobs as of late last year, with the rest working in the informal economy. Megan Janetsky, The Associated Press
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Anthony Albanese criticised for breaking protocol during Pope Leo XIV's inauguration
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been criticised for wearing an Akubra during Pope Leo XIV's inauguration mass. While world leaders and royals alike braved the heat in Vatican City on Sunday, Albanese was seen sporting the iconic Aussie garment. Dr Claudio Betti, director of Australian Catholic University told Sunrise Albanese's attire was 'absolutely not' within protocol. 'But of course, the sun was very bad,' Dr Betti said. 'I think considering it's a liturgical celebration, men should not wear hats but eventually the protocol had to be changed a little bit because the sun was really hot. 'And it lasted three hours and a half.' Very few other attendees were spotted wearing hats. After a clip of the PM's hat was shared online, many Aussies called him an 'embarrassment' for breaking the church's protocol. 'A national embarrassment,' one wrote. 'Does he know how ridiculous he looks?' another said. However, others came to the defence of Albanese, saying it was unreasonable to expect those waiting outside for several hours to forgo sun protection. 'It was an outside service, it was very hot. Common sense to have his hat on,' one said. 'If wearing a hat in the sun is breaking protocol, perhaps a new protocol needs to be made,' another wrote. Albanese later documented his meeting, minus the Akubra, with the new Pope on social media. Footage showed the pair shaking hands and sharing a brief conversation. 'Honoured to attend the inaugural Mass and meet His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, who is in the prayers of Australia's five million Catholics today,' Albanese wrote. Ahead of the ceremony, he told reporters in Rome: 'It will be a special day for the five million Australians of Catholic faith ... and it is a great honour for me to be here representing Australia.' Since arriving in Rome, Albanese has met with Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher and Melbourne Archbishop Peter Comensoli at Domus Australia. The mass, attended by tens of thousands of people in St Peter's Square, began at 10am local time (6pm Sunday AEST). Church leaders presented the Pope with the pallium, a vestment that signifies his assumption of the papacy, and a fisherman's ring, the symbol of the first apostles being 'fishers of men' in the gospels. Albanese said the Pope would be invited to Australia for the International Eucharist Conference in 2028. If it goes ahead, the trip would mark the first papal visit to Australia in more than a decade and attract thousands of Catholics from around the globe. 'As part of this visit we will be inviting his holiness Pope Leo to visit Australia at that time and give us that honour,' Albanese said. He will lobby for the visit alongside Australia's ambassador to the Holy See, former federal minister and Nationals MP Keith Pitt, who also attended the inaugural mass at St Peter's Basilica on Sunday. 'It's been a long time since a Pope has been in Australia,' Pitt told Sky News. He added that the Pope, who hailed from America but spent much of his life in Peru, was 'a student of the world'. 'He's been to Australia a number of times ... and I was reminded again this morning by an Archbishop that apparently he loves Tim Tams,' Pitt said. Albanese, who is also Catholic, said he did not often talk about his religious views but they had helped inform his politics. 'One of my first memories is of Pope Paul VI visiting Pyrmont Bridge Road, Camperdown, across the road from my house,' he said. 'My mum took me across to get close to Pope Paul.
