The German broadcaster ZDF is at it again: following the attempted beheading of a man in Belfast and the ensuing protests, ZDF claims that a “racist mob” was hunting down migrants – and that British activist Tommy Robinson and tech billionaire Elon Musk had incited them to do so. Following public criticism, the broadcaster has been forced to backtrack: the wording was “imprecise and misleading”.
On closer inspection, the narrative crumbles: Musk had merely commented on a post by Tommy Robinson, saying that only repeated and loud protest leads to change. ZDF turns “protest” into an incitement to violence. Furthermore, the presenter in the live broadcast incorrectly translates the English word “trouble” as “unrest” instead of “anger” – thus reinforcing the desired narrative. In the end, the broadcast concludes with a call for stricter regulation of social media.
ZDF’s flagship evening programme “Today Live” devoted much of a Tuesday broadcast to the role of social media in fueling the unrest. Presenter Christina v. Ungern-Sternberg said a “British right-wing extremist and tech billionaire Elon Musk” had called for rioters to hunt down migrants — a claim the broadcaster did not support with direct evidence.
The posts in question show Mr. Robinson urging followers to join demonstrations at locations listed across Britain and Northern Ireland, with instructions to remain “Peaceful. Respectful. Together.” Mr. Musk shared that post on X, writing to his 240 million followers: “Only by protesting REPEATEDLY and LOUDLY will there be any change!!”
The ZDF broadcast drew scrutiny of its own. The network previously issued a retraction after its Washington correspondent falsely claimed that Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk had called for homosexuals to be “stoned to death” — a claim ZDF later acknowledged misrepresented Kirk quoting a Bible passage.