Elon Musk faces controversy over German broadcaster's claims

German broadcaster ZDF has reacted to a cease-and-desist suit from Elon Musk by deleting a line from a program intro that linked him to calls for a "migrant hunt" in relation to anti-immigrant riots in Belfast. Musk had shared a post by British far-right activist Tommy Robinson concerning protests following a stabbing incident in Belfast, adding his own comment that "Only by protesting REPEATEDLY and LOUDLY will there be any change!!"

Musk called ZDF's characterization of his words a "terrible lie" and stated he was pursuing legal action. ZDF confirmed it had received a demand for a cease-and-desist declaration and complied by removing the passage from the "ZDFheute live" program. The broadcaster also added a disclaimer to the online version, admitting its words were "imprecise and potentially misleading."

The dispute has garnered support from Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, with co-leader Alice Weidel posting on X that "Defamation shouldn't go without consequences." The former editor-in-chief of the daily tabloid Bild, Julian Reichelt, also criticized ZDF, accusing it of fabricating claims and engaging in "propaganda lies."