Elon Musk has responded to recent online controversy accusing Wikipedia of bias and misinformation following the website’s description of one of his recent hand gestures as a “Nazi salute.”
In a series of social media posts over the weekend, Musk called for the online encyclopedia to be “defunded” until it “corrects its flawed publishing processes.”
“Defund Wikipedia until balance is restored!” Musk posted to X, receiving 31.5 million views as of Thursday morning.
Defund Wikipedia until balance is restored! https://t.co/CIszNP5Pvc
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2025
The backlash stemmed from an edit to Wikipedia’s page on Musk, in which the website’s editors or contributors described a gesture Musk made at a recent public event as resembling a “Nazi salute.” The description was quickly met with outrage from Musk and his supporters, who have accused Wikipedia of leaning on a left-wing bias.
Musk had been photographed raising his right arm in a gesture that some radical critics described as resembling the infamous Nazi salute. However, Musk’s social media posts defiantly deny any such intent, arguing that the motion was a spontaneous gesture not tied to any hateful ideology.
On January 21, Musk responded, posting on X that “The legacy media is pure propaganda,” adding, “You are the media now.”
The legacy media is pure propaganda.
You are the media now. https://t.co/lgkIbzcAZP
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2025
“Since legacy media propaganda is considered a ‘valid’ source by Wikipedia, it naturally simply becomes an extension of legacy media propaganda!” Musk added via another post to X.
The term “defund Wikipedia” quickly trended online, with Musk’s supporters rallying behind the call. They claimed that the online encyclopedia’s reputation for neutrality had been compromised by its political bias.
Musk’s feud with traditional media outlets and social platforms has been well-documented, but the latest clash with Wikipedia, one of the internet’s most widely used reference sources, marks a new chapter in the entrepreneur’s ongoing fight.
Even before the recent accusations from Wikipedia, Musk has staunchly opposed the website. In a previous post to X published in October 2024, Musk wrote, “Wikipedia is controlled by far-left activists. People should stop donating to them,” before further criticizing some controversial donation and profit ratios from the company.
As of the time of publication, Wikipedia has declined to comment directly on the controversy or mislabeling of Musk’s gestures.