A Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based meteorologist, Sam Kuffel, has been fired by WDJT-TV (Channel 58) after voicing criticisms about a gesture made by Elon Musk during the Trump inauguration event at the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.
Kuffel, 31, had been working at the CBS affiliate for over half a decade before her dismissal on January 22, 2025. She shared her criticisms of Tesla and SpaceX CEO Musk on Instagram, leading to her biography and picture being removed from the station’s website by Wednesday afternoon following an email announcement of her departure to the staff.
Jessie Garcia, the news director, communicated to the staff via email that Kuffel was no longer a part of CBS58 and a search for her replacement had started.
Musk made the controversial gesture while addressing Trump supporters during the inauguration celebrations at the Capital One Arena. The internet quickly took notice of the moment during his speech when Musk brought his hand to his chest and extended it straight out twice, saying, “My heart goes out to you.” Since the incident, Musk has made light of the accusations that his gesture was inappropriate, in various posts, without directly denying them.
Kuffel’s initial Instagram post read, “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 shared a GIF from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” captioned, “Screw that old (expletive). He’s a Nazi.” By late Tuesday, Kuffel made her Instagram profile private.
The Anti-Defamation League, a human rights and antisemitism watchdog, described Musk’s gesture as “awkward” and urged people to refrain from jumping to conclusions. It remains unclear what message Musk intended to convey to Trump’s supporters.
Musk responded to the criticism via several social media posts, where he made light of the accusations and hit back at critics suggesting that he made a Sieg Heil (Hitler) salute.
Conservative radio host Dan O’Donnell condemned Kuffel’s posts, accusing her of spreading false information about Musk’s gesture and labeling her posts as “vulgar.”
According to her LinkedIn page, Kuffel had been with Channel 58 for over five years and was a well-liked local weather forecaster.
A spokesperson for Weigel Broadcasting Co. confirmed Kuffel’s departure but declined to provide further details, citing personnel privacy.
The controversy has drawn international attention, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defending Musk, citing his support for Israel’s right to self-defense. Additionally, Musk’s mother, Maye Musk, posted photos of other leaders making similar gestures, challenging the interpretation of such movements.
Kuffel’s exit comes at a time when the industry is witnessing significant changes, impacting local television meteorologists. A recent comment she had made on X was quoted by CNN, emphasizing the critical role local meteorologists play in reporting severe weather events and their impact on community safety.
The incident underlines the increasingly complex interplay between social media, traditional news outlets, and public figures. Despite calls from the Anti-Defamation League and other extremism monitors for careful consideration of the context, the incident has sparked a widespread debate about the responsibilities of media personalities and their use of social media platforms.
Following Kuffel’s firing, a Journal Sentinel poll found that 89% of respondents believed WDJT-TV was wrong to fire her. The firing has fueled a broader discussion on cancel culture and freedom of speech for media figures.
A petition demanding Kuffel’s reinstatement has gained over 40,000 signatures from supporters. The petition argues that individuals should not be punished for criticizing billionaires or expressing opinions on their personal social media accounts.
