A meteorologist from Milwaukee has lost her job just one day after publicly criticizing Elon Musk on social media over a gesture he made during a recent event. Musk, who now oversees the Department of Government Efficiency, was seen at Capital One Arena after Donald Trump’s inauguration, thumping his chest and raising his arm. Many online compared the action to a controversial historical salute.
CBS58’s news director Jessie Garcia confirmed in an internal note that meteorologist Sam Kuffel was no longer employed at the station and that they were looking for a replacement.
Kuffel had taken to Instagram to voice her frustration, posting an image of Musk and accusing him of repeating the gesture twice. Using explicit language, she made it clear she wanted nothing to do with those who supported him. She further emphasized her anger by sharing a GIF from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” with an offensive caption about Musk.
Her posts were met with sharp criticism from conservative radio host Dan O’Donnell, who accused her of spreading false claims and using crude language. Kuffel had been a part of CBS58 for over five years and previously worked at WAOW-TV after earning her degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2016.
Amid the controversy, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) released a statement clarifying that Musk’s gesture was not a Nazi salute but an enthusiastic motion taken out of context. They urged people to extend understanding and focus on unity rather than division.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also defended Musk, saying the accusations against him were baseless.
