Trump DOJ Accuses Wikipedia of Propaganda, Threatens Nonprofit Status

The Trump administration is escalating its conflict with freely available information, now targeting Wikipedia. A Justice Department attorney has accused the Wikimedia Foundation of allowing the spread of “propaganda” and is threatening its nonprofit status.

Ed Martin, acting US attorney for the District of Columbia, sent a letter to the Wikimedia Foundation, alleging violations of Section 501(c)(3) of Title 26 of the United States Code. This law governs tax-exempt nonprofits.

Martin claims Wikipedia is failing to prevent “foreign actors” from manipulating information and spreading propaganda. He alleges the platform permits the rewriting of historical events and biographical information of American leaders, impacting national security.

He also questions the Wikimedia Foundation’s board composition, suggesting its “primarily foreign national” makeup “subverts the interests of American taxpayers.”

Martin has demanded documents and answers about Wikipedia’s safeguards against propaganda and foreign influence. The Wikimedia Foundation has until May 15 to respond.

This isn’t an isolated incident. Martin has sent similar letters to scientific journals like CHEST Journal and the New England Journal of Medicine, accusing them of bias.

Martin also targeted publications reporting on the Department of Government Efficiency and lawmakers critical of Elon Musk. Musk has previously criticized Wikipedia as “Wokepedia” and “an extension of legacy media propaganda,” making Martin’s focus on the platform unsurprising.

Critics view Martin’s actions as an attempt to silence dissent and control information. Free speech advocates condemn what they see as thinly veiled threats aimed at suppressing criticism of the Trump administration.

Keywords: Trump, DOJ, Wikipedia, propaganda, nonprofit, Wikimedia Foundation, Ed Martin, censorship, free speech, Elon Musk