WDJT-TV (Channel 58), a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based station, terminated the employment of meteorologist Sam Kuffel following her social media outburst against Elon Musk’s actions at a Trump inauguration event held at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
On Wednesday, January 22, 2025, 31-year-old Kuffel, who had been with the CBS affiliate for over half a decade, was ousted due to her Instagram comments regarding Musk. The station removed her biography and photograph from their website after informing the staff of Kuffel’s dismissal via email.
CBS58’s news director, Jessie Garcia, notified the staff through an email that read, “Meteorologist Sam Kuffel is no longer employed at CBS58. A search for a replacement is underway.”
The incident sparking the controversy took place during the celebrations of Trump’s presidential inauguration. Musk, one of the high-profile speakers, made a contentious gesture during his speech, which was seen as an expression of unity with the crowd. Musk, accused by some that his gesture resembled a Nazi salute, has since addressed criticism with humor and engagement via multiple social media posts, without explicitly addressing the accusations.
The specific point of contention was Musk’s arm gesture during his speech on Monday. The billionaire twice moved his hand to his chest and extended it straight out, exclaiming, “My heart goes out to you.” This action was quickly shared online, with several neo-Nazi leaders posting clips of the viral moment.
In her initial Instagram post, Kuffel stated, “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 subsequently posted an “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” GIF captioned, “Screw that old (expletive). He’s a Nazi.” Kuffel made her Instagram account private by Tuesday evening.
The Anti-Defamation League, a human rights and antisemitism watchdog organization, described Musk’s action as an “awkward gesture” and called for restraint in drawing conclusions. Other extremism monitors and experts also noted the ambiguity in what Musk intended to communicate to Trump’s supporters.
Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, reacted to the accusations via several social media posts, although he did not deny them outright. He did, however, downplay the criticism and hit back at those suggesting he was making a Sieg Heil (Hitler) salute.
Conservative radio host Dan O’Donnell condemned Kuffel’s posts on Tuesday, accusing her of “spreading the lie that Elon Musk was giving a Nazi salute” and described her posts as “vulgar.”
According to her LinkedIn page, Kuffel joined Channel 58 over five years ago and had become a well-liked local weather forecaster. Prior to joining the Milwaukee station, she worked at WAOW-TV (Channel 9) in Wausau, Wisconsin. After earning her degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2016, she moved to Milwaukee. Apart from delivering weather forecasts, she also offered regular commentary on WRNW-FM (97.3), an all-sports radio station.
A spokeswoman for Weigel Broadcasting Co. confirmed Kuffel’s exit but refrained from further comments, citing employee privacy. Media attempts to contact Kuffel via email, text, and phone on Wednesday were unsuccessful.
The controversy has attracted global attention. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Musk, pointing to his support for Israel’s right to self-defense. Maye Musk, Elon Musk’s mother, questioned the interpretations of such gestures by posting photos of other leaders making similar movements.
Kuffel’s dismissal comes amidst larger industry shifts affecting local television meteorologists. Her recent comments to CNN underscored the importance of local weather forecasters, particularly in the wake of numerous layoffs in weather teams across the country. She expressed her concerns about the potential impact on community safety during severe weather events. Her statement underscored the critical role local meteorologists play in public safety during major weather events.
This incident underscores the complex relationship between social media, traditional news outlets, and public figures. While groups like the Anti-Defamation League and other extremism monitors have called for careful consideration of the context, the incident has ignited a broader debate about the responsibilities of public-facing media personalities and their use of social media platforms. The controversy has been further fueled by several neo-Nazi leaders sharing clips of the viral moment from Musk’s speech.