Washington – Elon Musk has called for Wikipedia to be defunded after the platform compared his recent hand gesture at the Trump inauguration to a Nazi salute. The gesture, made by Musk during a speech thanking the crowd, was met with criticism, leading to the inclusion of the description on his Wikipedia page.
Musk, who owns the social media platform X, accused Wikipedia of promoting disinformation and sided with his supporters in calling for the encyclopedia's defunding. In response, Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales defended the description as factually accurate, challenging Musk's claims.
The exchange highlights growing tensions between Musk’s platform, known for relaxed content moderation, and Wikipedia’s commitment to neutrality. The clash underscores a broader debate over the spread of misinformation and the role of social media in shaping public perception.