Weather reporter Sam Kuffel fired over Elon Musk ‘Nazi salute’
A local meteorologist who worked for Milwaukee’s CBS affiliate was fired from her job after she posted criticism on social media denouncing Elon Musk as a “Nazi” over his controversial arm gesture at a pro-Trump rally.
Sam Kuffel, the weather reporter for CBS 58, was let go by the station a day after she posted two items on her Instagram page condemning Musk.
In one post, Kuffel commented on an image of Musk at the podium, writing: “Dude Nazi saluted twice. TWICE. During the inauguration.”
She added, “You f–k with this and this man, I don’t f–k with you. Full stop.”
Kuffel then posted a GIF from the hit TV show “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” along with the caption: “Screw that old b—h. He’s a Nazi.”
“Meteorologist Sam Kuffel is no longer employed at CBS58,” CBS 58 news director Jessie Garcia wrote to staffers in a memo that was obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
“A search for a replacement is underway.”
A representative of Weigel Broadcasting Co., the company that owns the station, confirmed the dismissal in an emailed statement to the Journal Sentinel on Wednesday.
The Post has sought comment from Kuffel, CBS 58 and Weigel Broadcasting Co.
Kuffel’s post critical of Musk was spotted on Tuesday by Dan O’Donnell, a conservative radio host, who wrote on X: “CBS 58 meteorologist Sam Kuffel makes a pair of vulgar Instagram posts while spreading the lie that Elon Musk was giving a Nazi salute during yesterday’s Presidential Inauguration.”
O’Donnell added that Musk said “my heart goes out to you” when he made his gesture.
Kuffel, who has worked at local stations in the Wisconsin area since graduating from college in 2016, made headlines this past fall when she accused Fox Sports NFL sideline reporter Erin Andrews of fabricating a weather alert during a Packers-Lions game in Green Bay.
“Begging Erin Andrews to stop making up weather alerts,” Kuffel said in a since-deleted post on X, adding, “stuff like this makes me irrationally angry.”
Andrews sent a message to the meteorologist, writing on X, “hey Sam! Just saw the story [about] your tweet,” Andrews wrote. “Let me know the best way to touch base. Wanted to show you where Fox security (working the game) and I got our Weather Alert for the Packers game! Thx!!”
Musk has defended the one-armed gesture he gave during President Trump’s inauguration — arguing the left-wingers who accused him of giving a Nazi salute “need better dirty tricks.”
The billionaire tech titan caused a stir on social media after he placed his right hand over his heart and then extended his arm into the air as he thanked Trump’s supporters on Monday ahead of the Inauguration Day parade.
“Frankly, they need better dirty tricks. The ‘everyone is Hitler’ attack is sooo tired,” Musk, 53, said in a post on X as he addressed the backlash.
The SpaceX founder also thanked the Anti-Defamation League after it publicly dismissed Musk’s motion as an “awkward gesture” and “not a Nazi salute.”
“Thanks guys,” he said on X alongside a crying laughing face emoji in response to the ADL’s statement.
