Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has launched a fierce attack on several prominent global news organisations, labelling them as "lying propagandists." His accusation stems from what he perceives as selective and biased coverage of a hand gesture he made, compared to a similar action by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The Core of the Controversy: Two Gestures, Different Reactions
The dispute centres on two separate inaugural events. On January 20, 2025, during celebrations for Donald Trump's presidential inauguration, Elon Musk was seen making a gesture. This involved placing his hand on his chest and then extending his arm outward. This action was widely criticised by legacy media outlets including the New York Times and CNN. Many political commentators and Democrats suggested it bore a resemblance to a Nazi or fascist salute.
In contrast, a viral video montage highlighted a moment from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's inauguration on January 1, 2026. During his speech, which focused on themes of unity and progressive policy, Mamdani also made an outward arm gesture. However, this moment received scant attention from mainstream media outlets.
Musk reposted this comparative video, directly accusing major news desks of a double standard. The list of organisations he called out included NYT, BBC, NPR, CNN, Reuters, and MSNBC, accusing them of misrepresenting his actions while ignoring Mamdani's similar motion.
Defence, Criticism, and Social Media Frenzy
In his defence, Musk rejected the criticism as a deliberate political smear. Interestingly, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a prominent US-based international Jewish anti-hate organisation, weighed in on the matter. The ADL stated that Musk's gesture was "nothing but an awkward expression of enthusiasm."
The incident sparked a massive debate on social media platforms, with users sharply divided:
- One user mocked, "This dude thinks we can’t tell the difference between a wave and him slicing the air with his hand like he’s Zoro with a katana."
- Another offered a sarcastic analysis: "Well...yours was a hard one and his was soft so...that is the difference. His was a warm breeze of collectivism and workers unite bouquet of sunshine and yours was a little more militant looking."
- Others were more blunt, stating, "If anyone can't see the difference in hand gestures, they are either blind or ignorant."
- A critical perspective highlighted context: "Musk wasn't elected and certainly didn't wave to the crowd, so compare what's comparable."
A Broader Accusation of Media Narratives
This episode has escalated beyond a debate about a single gesture. It has become a flashpoint in the ongoing discussion about media bias and narrative-setting. Musk's broadside against established news giants frames the incident as evidence of systemic misrepresentation. His claim suggests that media outlets selectively amplify stories that fit a particular political narrative while downplaying or ignoring comparable actions from figures on a different side of the political spectrum.
The fallout underscores the deepening rift between new-age tech moguls and traditional media institutions. It also highlights how viral social media content is increasingly used to challenge and counter mainstream media reports, putting editorial decisions under intense public scrutiny.
