French far-right leader canceled his speech at the conservative CPAC conference in Washington on Friday due to what he described as a Nazi salute by a speaker, which was believed to be a reference to Steve Bannon, as reported by his National Rally (RN) party.
The 29-year-old Bardella, president of the RN, is closely associated with the party's figurehead, Marine Le Pen, and is viewed as a potential future presidential candidate.
His recent visit to the United States highlighted the RN's efforts to strengthen ties with U.S. President Donald Trump, with whom Le Pen has had a complex relationship.
In response to the incident during the conference, Bardella stated, "Consequently, I made the immediate decision to cancel my intervention scheduled for this afternoon at the event." This decision came after Bannon's gesture at the end of his speech, which some interpreted as a Nazi salute.
Bannon denied the accusation, describing his gesture as a "wave" and criticizing Bardella's reaction. Amidst the controversy, Bardella faced criticism from Bannon, who questioned his leadership capabilities.
The RN, formerly known as the National Front, has transitioned from being associated with antisemitism and racism under Marine Le Pen's father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, to a more pro-Israel stance as part of efforts to cleanse the party of extremist elements.
Although Le Pen is considered a leading contender for the French presidency in the 2027 election, her interactions with Trump have been mixed, with past incidents of strained relations evolving into a seemingly warmer rapport.