CHICAGO, Illinois (The Adobo Chronicles, Washington Bureau) – The woman who was photographed making a Nazi salute at the canceled Donald Trump rally in Chicago last week thought that the Republican presidential candidate was a direct descendant of Adolf Hitler.

The photo showing Birgitt Peterson, 69, in a Trump t-shirt, eyes locked with a protester, her right arm raised skyward and palm faced downward, immediately went viral. Netizens commented that the photo is proof of Trump’s ‘fascist’ tendencies which have attracted many supporters like Peterson.

For the first time since the photograph went viral, Peterson spoke out and explained why she did what she did.

The West Berlin-born Peterson claimed she was a genealogist and had recently researched Trump’s heritage. It is no secret that Trump comes from a German and Scottish background.

Peterson’s research further established Trump’s direct German lineage:

Donald’s grandfather, Friederich (Fred) Trump. was born on March 14, 1869 in Kallstadt, Pfalz, Germany. He immigrated in 1885 to United States from Hamburg aboard the ship “Eider” and became a U.S. citizen in 1892 in Seattle, Washington. He died of influenza on 30 Mar 1918 in New York City, New York.

Donald’s grandmother, Elizabeth Christ, was born on October 10, 1880 in Kallstadt, Pfalz, Germany and died on 6 Jun 1966 in Queens, New York.

Peterson got excited and started to research if Donald’s lineage had any direct connection with Hitler. Her research got briefly interrupted because she had to leave her home to attend the Trump rally.

“When I made the Nazi sign, I was still in my genealogy research mode. It was a subconscious act on my part when confronted by anti-Trump supporters,” she said.

Peterson apologized for her reflex action, but said she will continue her research because she still feels that Donald was a direct descendant of the Führer.