Clooney’s new play allegedly ends with pic of Musk giving ‘Nazi’ salute

A George Clooney-led Broadway production peddling “trust and honesty in news” was slammed for “blatant hypocrisy” after including a choice image of Elon Musk.

While CBS News continued to face legal troubles regarding a pre-election interview of then-Vice President Kamala Harris, it appeared that the two-time Academy Award-winning actor had waded himself into a morass of misrepresentation. The Broadway adaptation of former President Barack Obama’s pal’s 2005 film “Good Night, and Good Luck,” allegedly used its platform to perpetuate the smear that the world’s richest man had given a Nazi salute on Inauguration Day 2025.

Following his viewing of the recently-opened play starring Clooney in the role of CBS broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow amid conflict with Wisconsin Sen. Joseph McCarthy (R) during the 50s, Outkick founder Clay Travis took to X to criticize the inclusion of the image at the end of the “story about the importance of trust & honesty in news.”

“The play ends with @elonmusk on screen allegedly giving a Nazi salute. The crowd gasps. Except Musk wasn’t giving a Nazi salute, he was tapping his heart to express love for the crowd around him,” wrote Travis. “So the play, about the importance of trust and honesty in news, actually ends with evidence of why the news can’t be trusted and isn’t honest. And judging by the gasping reaction of the audience, most people believed Musk was giving a Nazi salute.”

So the play, about the importance of trust and honesty in news, actually ends with evidence of why the news can’t be trusted and isn’t honest. And judging by the gasping reaction of the audience, most people believed Musk was giving a Nazi salute.

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) April 12, 2025

The commentator went on to add, “The subtext of the entire play was, ‘Be careful or the media will play you for fools.’ And then the crowd got played for fools & cheered it. I’m not sure if it’s diabolical satire of cheering crowd or painful lack of self awareness & accidental destruction of the play’s message.”

Responding to the claim that his reputation was continuing to be tarnished by the alleged misrepresentation of the gesture made while celebrating President Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the head of the Department of Government Efficiency simply stated, “Wow, what blatant hypocrisy!”

The subtext of the entire play was, “Be careful or the media will play you for fools.” And then the crowd got played for fools & cheered it. I’m not sure if it’s diabolical satire of cheering crowd or painful lack of self awareness & accidental destruction of the play’s message.

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) April 12, 2025

Wow, what blatant hypocrisy!

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 13, 2025

Attendees of the premiere included CNN’s Jake Tapper, who recently drew chuckles when he claimed he’s “not on the left,” ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, who was part of a $16 million settlement with the president for claiming Trump had been “found liable for rape,” and CBS News’ Lesley Stahl and Gayle King as their corporate media outlet, “60 Minutes” and parent company Paramount faced a $10 billion lawsuit from the president over alleged election interference following questionable editing of the program’s interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

Opening night arrivals.

: Emilio Madrid pic.twitter.com/JJOTUKg24Y

— Good Night, and Good Luck (@goodnightbwy) April 5, 2025

Opening night arrivals.

: Emilio Madrid pic.twitter.com/mFFuluhmT4

— Good Night, and Good Luck (@goodnightbwy) April 5, 2025

The outlet drew renewed criticism from Trump Sunday after an interview with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and a segment on protests of the administration in Greenland were met by the president calling for CBS New to “lose their license!”

Trump had also criticized Clooney ahead of the premier of the play as he accused CBS of releasing a “puff piece” about the actor and the production after the star had inserted himself into the 2024 election by first endorsing then-President Joe Biden, only to then call for his withdrawal from the race in support of Harris.

“His press agent should be making a fortune!!!” argued the president at the time as reactions to the reported image sounded off with renewed disdain for leftist celebrities and the media.

Looks like broadway is an extension of the media.

— RemoWilliams ⚓️ (@DOJFBIisbroken) April 13, 2025

so it was exactly like the media a complete lie

— Mudman (@DouganMudman95) April 12, 2025

I didn’t think I could loathe Clooney more. Well… never say never.

— A/B Test (@AB20080701) April 12, 2025

I hope Elon buries Clooney in litigation.

— Sean Sewill (@SeanSewill) April 12, 2025

Staff Writer

Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn’t researching current events and their impacts, you’ll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.

Latest posts by Kevin Haggerty (see all)

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.