Introduction to the Controversy

Moderators of over 100 Reddit communities took a stance by banning links to X. This decision came after Elon Musk’s infamous Nazi-style salutes in January, which sparked a wave of criticism and concern over the display of violent fascist ideology. Musk publicly expressed his discontent with Reddit during the controversy. However, it has come to light that he was not only vocal about his grievances on X but also privately pressured the CEO of Reddit, Steve Huffman, to intervene on his behalf, specifically to silence critics of the Trump regime, as reported by The Verge.

Musk’s Private Pressure on Reddit

The exchange of text messages between Musk and Huffman occurred before Reddit temporarily banned the subreddit r/WhitePeopleofTwitter for 72 hours. The ban was enforced due to violent threats directed at members of DOGE, an entity involved in dismantling the U.S. government. While the exact details of the conversation between Musk and Huffman have not been disclosed, moderators from several subreddits described Musk’s behavior as that of a "giant baby" upon learning of the communication. Musk has a history of banning links to domains he dislikes, but when the tables are turned, his reaction is notably stronger.

Reaction from Reddit Moderators

One Reddit moderator expressed concern over Musk’s ability to exert influence over both public and private institutions, stating, "I don’t have any problem with removing rule-breaking content (and taking the respective admin action on said accounts), but I find it a bit problematic that he’s able to exert influence on both public and private institutions." When questioned, X did not respond, but a Reddit spokesperson provided a general statement about addressing policy violations without directly acknowledging whether Musk and Huffman communicated during the time in question.

Statement from Reddit

The statement from Reddit emphasized, "We take any report of Reddit policy violations seriously, whether on Reddit directly or through other public or private means. We will evaluate content reported to us and take action if it violates our policies." This response indicates a commitment to enforcing community standards but does not address the central issue of Musk’s influence.

Widespread Ban on X Links

The ban on X links across various subreddits, including apolitical communities like r/NFL and r/Nintendo, reflects a broad dissatisfaction with Musk’s actions. The moderators of r/Military succinctly explained their decision with "Fuck that guy," a response that encapsulates the outrage over Musk’s Nazi-style salutes. Musk initially did not deny making the salutes, instead choosing to make light of the situation with jokes about Nazis, which were widely criticized.

Musk’s Denial and Aftermath

Musk eventually denied making a Nazi salute during an interview with Joe Rogan, but the damage had already been done. His actions were celebrated by literal Nazis on X and replicated by figures like Calvin Robinson, Eduardo Verástegui, Steve Bannon, and Andrew Tate, further fueling concerns about the normalization of fascist symbols and ideology.

The Larger Picture

The U.S. is facing a rapid descent into fascist tendencies, with instances like international students being abducted by secret police and detained in ICE facilities thousands of miles away from their locations. The video of Turkish PhD student Rumeysa Ozturk’s abduction went viral, highlighting the stark realities of the situation. Elon Musk’s influence, both within the tech world and beyond, continues to grow, posing significant concerns about the future of American democracy and the power of oligarchs like Musk to shape public discourse and policy.

Conclusion

As Musk accumulates more power and influence, particularly with his ties to the Trump administration, his ability to affect change across various platforms, including those he does not own, becomes increasingly alarming. The private pressure on Reddit’s CEO to silence critics of the Trump regime underscores the depth of Musk’s reach and the challenges faced by platforms in maintaining their independence and commitment to free speech in the face of oligarchic influence.