Musk Calls To "Defund" Wikipedia After Gesture Draws Nazi Salute Comparisons

Washington – Elon Musk has launched a fresh public dispute with Wikipedia, calling for the platform to be defunded after his recent hand gesture at the Donald Trump inauguration was compared to a Nazi salute. The controversial incident occurred during a ceremony in which Musk extended his right arm toward the crowd, a gesture that some observers likened to the infamous fascist salute.

The disagreement between Musk and the online encyclopedia highlights the clash between Musk’s social media platform, X, and the editorial neutrality that Wikipedia upholds. Wikipedia, founded by Jimmy Wales, aims for factual neutrality and is often seen as a reliable source of information, despite being written by volunteers. Musk, however, criticized Wikipedia for including the description of his gesture, arguing that the platform promotes disinformation.

The tension intensified when Musk shared a snippet of his Wikipedia entry, pointing out the wording that mentioned the comparison to the Nazi salute. In his post, Musk accused Wikipedia of being an extension of legacy media propaganda and urged his followers to "defund" the site.

Wales responded, dismissing Musk’s claims and defending Wikipedia’s stance on neutrality. He emphasized that the entry was factually accurate and pointed out that Musk had not disputed the description of his gesture. The confrontation underscores the growing divide between Musk's platform, which has faced criticism for lax content moderation policies, and Wikipedia's mission to provide unbiased, volunteer-driven content.

Musk’s comments further fuel the ongoing debate about the role of social media platforms in shaping public discourse, particularly as misinformation continues to spread rapidly online. With the decline in trust toward traditional journalism, the clash between Musk and Wales serves as a striking reminder of the challenges facing online platforms striving to maintain credibility in an increasingly polarized world.