A meteorologist based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was terminated from her position at WDJT-TV (Channel 58) following her social media posts that criticized a gesture made by Elon Musk during a Trump inauguration event at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Sam Kuffel, a 31-year-old weather forecaster who had served the CBS affiliate for over half a decade, was ousted from her role on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, subsequent to her Instagram commentary on Musk. By Wednesday afternoon, her photo and biography had been erased from the station’s website following the announcement of her departure to the staff via email.
The station’s news director, Jessie Garcia, communicated to the staff via an email, stating, “Meteorologist Sam Kuffel is no longer employed at CBS58. A search for a replacement is underway.”
The incident took place during the celebrations of Trump’s presidential inauguration at Capital One Arena. Musk, being one of the high-profile speakers, made a gesture during his speech expressing solidarity with the crowd. Since the incident, Musk posted a dozen times on social media, responding to critics and downplaying the allegations without explicitly denying them.
The controversy revolved around Musk’s arm gestures during his speech on Monday. The billionaire twice extended his hand straight out from his chest before stating, “My heart goes out to you.” This action quickly gained traction online, with several neo-Nazi leaders sharing clips of the viral moment.
In her initial Instagram post, Kuffel wrote, “Dude Nazi saluted twice. TWICE. During the inauguration.” She followed this with, “You (expletive) with this and this man, I don’t (expletive) with you. Full stop.” She also posted a GIF from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” with the caption, “Screw that old (expletive). He’s a Nazi.” By late Tuesday, Kuffel’s Instagram account was set to private.
The Anti-Defamation League, a watchdog organization for antisemitism and human rights, described Musk’s motion as an “awkward gesture” and urged for caution before drawing conclusions. Other experts monitoring extremism noted the ambiguity in Musk’s intent behind the gesture.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, responded to criticism through several social media posts. Although he didn’t explicitly deny the allegations, he made light of the criticism and hit back at those suggesting he made a Sieg Heil (Hitler) salute.
Conservative radio host Dan O’Donnell censured Kuffel’s posts on Tuesday, accusing her of “spreading the lie that Elon Musk was giving a Nazi salute” and labeling her posts as “vulgar.”
According to her LinkedIn page, Kuffel joined Channel 58 more than five years ago. She quickly rose to popularity as a local weather forecaster, having previously worked at WAOW-TV (Channel 9) in Wausau, Wisconsin. She moved to Milwaukee after earning her degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2016. In addition to weather forecasting, she was a regular contributor to WRNW-FM (97.3), an all-sports radio station.
A spokeswoman for Weigel Broadcasting Co. confirmed Kuffel’s departure but refrained from further comment, citing personnel privacy issues. Multiple attempts to contact Kuffel on Wednesday via email, text, and phone were unsuccessful.
The controversy has drawn attention from around the globe. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Musk, citing his support for Israel’s right to self-defense. Musk’s mother, Maye Musk, posted photos of other leaders making similar gestures, thereby questioning the interpretation of such movements.
Kuffel’s departure aligns with larger industry shifts impacting local television meteorologists. Amid a wave of layoffs affecting weather teams nationwide, she had recently been quoted by CNN about the pivotal role of local weather forecasters. She expressed her concern about community safety during severe weather events, emphasizing the critical role local meteorologists play in public safety.
This controversy underscores the intricate relationship between social media, traditional news outlets, and public figures. While organizations like the Anti-Defamation League and other extremism monitors have urged a measured assessment of the context, the incident has sparked a wide-ranging debate about the responsibilities of media personalities in the public eye and their use of social media platforms. The controversy has been further stoked by several neo-Nazi leaders sharing clips of the viral moment from Musk’s speech.