Elon Musk issues furious response after Wikipedia calls his controversial gesture a 'Nazi salute'

Elon Musk has hit out at Wikipedia’s founders after the website documented the accusations he has faced since Donald Trump’s inauguration.

Billionaire Elon Musk was one of the many famous faces in attendance at Donald Trump’s second inauguration on Monday (20 January). However, one particular moment from Musk on stage caused a massive stir around the world.

The Tesla CEO has been accused of doing a ‘nazi salute’ to the audience twice - once to the crowd in front of them, and once to the crowd behind him. Take a look at the moment here:

While on stage he said: "Thank you for making it happen. Thank you, my heart goes out to you."

Musk has denied this was his intention and other defenders of the billionaire have argued he was doing a Roman salute, or was 'giving his heart to the crowd'.

Now, the Wikipedia page on Musk has been updated to explain the scenario and highlights figures that have taken issue with it, much to Musk’s disapproval.

It read: “Musk thumped his right hand over his heart, fingers spread wide, and then extended his right arm out, emphatically, at an upward angle, palm down and fingers together.

“He then repeated the gesture to the crowd on his back. As he finished the gestures, he said to the crowd, 'My heart goes out to you'.

"The gesture was viewed as a Nazi salute or Roman salute by many, including politicians Yolanda Díaz, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Jerry Nadler, as well as historian of fascism Ruth Ben-Ghiat."

Musk furiously took shots at the co-founders Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger in response, saying that Wikipedia had become an extension of left wing media or ‘legacy media’.

Since legacy media propaganda is considered a “valid” source by Wikipedia, it naturally simply becomes an extension of legacy media propaganda! https://t.co/lwQlM51FRX

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2025

In a tweet, he wrote: “Since legacy media propaganda is considered a 'valid' source by Wikipedia, it naturally simply becomes an extension of legacy media propaganda!"

In another tweet he added: "Defund Wikipedia until balance is restored."

However, Wales did not back down from hitting back out at Musk.

In his own post he wrote: "I think Elon is unhappy that Wikipedia is not for sale. I hope his campaign to defund us results in lots of donations from people who care about the truth.

"If Elon wanted to help, he’d be encouraging kind and thoughtful intellectual people he agrees with to engage."

Despite the accusations against musk, the Anti-Defamation League defended the South African billionaire.

In a statement on Twitter, the organization said: "It seems that [Musk] make an awkward gesture in a moment of enthusiasm, not a Nazi salute, but again, we appreciate that people on edge."