A controversial gesture by Elon Musk has sparked further debate, with subplots now unfolding as the billionaire trolls Wikipedia and calls for its defunding. The tension arose after a description of Musk’s recent public action—interpreted by some as resembling a Hitler salute—was added to the online encyclopedia.
The clash pits two prominent internet figures against each other: Elon Musk, owner of the social media platform X, and Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia. The incident underscores the stark differences between Musk’s increasingly unmoderated platform and Wikipedia’s alleged commitment to factual neutrality.
The feud began on January 20, when Musk, attending Trump’s inauguration, made a gesture that drew comparisons to a Nazi salute. Musk tapped his chest with his right hand before extending his arm, palm open, towards the crowd. The action was repeated for an audience behind him. By January 22, both Musk’s Wikipedia page and the entry on the “Nazi salute” mentioned the incident.
On January 21, Musk reposted a segment of his Wikipedia page referencing the gesture, though the text on Wikipedia appeared slightly altered by January 22. The reposted passage stated: “In his speech during the second Trump inauguration, Musk twice extended his right arm towards the crowd in an upward angle. The gesture was compared to a Nazi salute or fascist salute. Musk denied any meaning behind the gesture.”
Musk criticized Wikipedia and mainstream media, calling both sources of disinformation. “Since legacy media propaganda is considered a ‘valid’ source by Wikipedia, it naturally becomes an extension of legacy media propaganda!” he wrote, urging his followers to “defund” the site.
Jimmy Wales responded by mocking Musk’s failed attempts to purchase Wikipedia. “I think Elon is unhappy that Wikipedia is not for sale,” Wales quipped. Run by the nonprofit Wikimedia Foundation, Wikipedia remains a unique entity in today’s internet landscape, standing apart from for-profit giants like Google and Meta with its open-source, volunteer-driven model.
Wales further challenged Musk, asking, “Is there anything inaccurate in that description?” and asserting that the entry was not propaganda but fact-based. “Every element of it is accurate,” he added.
Since its founding on January 15, 2001, Wikipedia has expanded from English to hundreds of languages, maintaining its mission to provide clear and neutral content. Despite declining trust in journalism and politics, Wales noted, “We just keep trying to be neutral and clear.”
In contrast, Musk’s management of X—marked by layoffs of trust and safety teams and the introduction of the crowd-sourced moderation tool Community Notes—has raised concerns. Critics argue that loosening restrictions and reinstating banned accounts have turned X into a hotbed of disinformation. Researchers warn that the platform’s weakened guardrails have left it vulnerable to exploitation.
The feud between Musk and Wales reflects broader tensions over the role of neutrality, accountability, and the propagation of information.
Sources
The Straits Times. (2025, January 23). Musk, Wikipedia founder in row over how to describe ‘Nazi salute’. Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/musk-wikipedia-founder-in-row-over-how-to-describe-nazi-salute
