A Milwaukee, Wisconsin, meteorologist was dismissed from WDJT-TV (Channel 58) following social media posts criticizing Elon Musk’s gesture at a Trump inauguration event at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Sam Kuffel, 31, who had worked at the CBS affiliate for over five years, was removed from her position on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, after posting comments about Musk on Instagram. Her biography and photo were removed from the station’s website by Wednesday afternoon following an email to staff announcing her departure.
News director Jessie Garcia informed staff via email: “Meteorologist Sam Kuffel is no longer employed at CBS58. A search for a replacement is underway.”
The event occurred during Trump’s presidential inauguration celebrations at Capital One Arena, where Musk was one of several high-profile speakers addressing Trump supporters. The gesture happened during a portion of Musk’s speech expressing solidarity with the crowd. Throughout his dozen posts since the incident, Musk has engaged with critics while making light of the accusations, though not explicitly denying them.
The controversy centered on Musk’s arm gestures during Monday’s speech, where the billionaire brought his hand to his chest and extended it straight out twice before saying, “My heart goes out to you.” The moment quickly gained attention online, with several neo-Nazi leaders sharing clips of the viral moment.
In her first Instagram post, Kuffel wrote, “Dude Nazi saluted twice. TWICE. During the inauguration,” followed by, “You (expletive) with this and this man, I don’t (expletive) with you. Full stop.” She then 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 had made her Instagram account private.
The Anti-Defamation League, an antisemitism and human rights watchdog organization, characterized Musk’s motion as an “awkward gesture” and urged caution in jumping to conclusions. Other extremism monitors and experts noted it was unclear what Musk was trying to convey to Trump’s supporters.
Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, responded to criticism through multiple social media posts, though he did not explicitly deny the accusations. He did, however, make light of the criticism and lashed out at those suggesting he made a Sieg Heil salute.
Conservative radio host Dan O’Donnell criticized Kuffel’s posts on Tuesday, accusing her of “spreading the lie that Elon Musk was giving a Nazi salute” and describing her posts as “vulgar.”
According to her LinkedIn page, Kuffel joined Channel 58 more than five years ago, building a reputation as a popular local weather forecaster. She had previously established herself at WAOW-TV (Channel 9) in Wausau, Wisconsin, before moving to Milwaukee after completing her degree at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2016. Her presence extended beyond weather forecasting, as she became a regular voice on WRNW-FM (97.3), the all-sports radio station.
A Weigel Broadcasting Co. spokeswoman confirmed Kuffel’s departure but declined further comment, citing personnel privacy concerns. Multiple attempts to reach Kuffel by email, text, and phone on Wednesday were unsuccessful.
The controversy has drawn international attention. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Musk, citing his support for Israel’s right to defend itself. Musk’s mother, Maye Musk, posted photos of other leaders making similar gestures, questioning the interpretation of such movements.
Kuffel’s departure coincides with broader industry changes affecting local television meteorologists. Her recent comments to CNN about the importance of local weather forecasters came amid a wave of layoffs affecting weather teams nationwide. “Local meteorologists are essential to local news,” Kuffel had written on X, expressing concern about the impact on community safety during severe weather events. Her statement about communities suffering during major weather events highlighted local meteorologists’ crucial role in public safety.
This controversy has highlighted the increasingly complex relationship between social media, traditional news outlets, and public figures. While the Anti-Defamation League and other extremism monitors have urged careful consideration of the context, the incident has sparked widespread debate about the responsibilities of public-facing media personalities and their use of social media platforms. Several neo-Nazi leaders have shared clips of the viral moment from Musk’s speech, further fueling the controversy surrounding the gesture.
