German broadcaster pulls intro after Elon Musk threatens legal action

Tue Jun 16 2026 21:58:04 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

ZDF removed a claim linking Elon Musk to migrant‑hunting calls amid legal threat from the billionaire, correcting misleading language after Belfast violence.

The German public broadcaster ZDF deleted an opening segment from its live news showing a claim that Elon Musk had urged the hunt for migrants in Northern Ireland. Musk’s lawyers threatened legal action, prompting the station to issue a cease‑and‑desist order and issue a correction. The broadcaster later clarified that the phrase misrepresented the situation, noting that Tommy Robinson—not Musk—promoted protest plans after a violent knife attack in Belfast. Amid rising tensions in the city, the incident drew international attention and highlighted Musk’s contentious presence on social media, where critics accuse him of inflaming conflicts.

German broadcaster pulls intro after Elon Musk threatens legal action

The German public broadcaster ZDF said it had removed part of a report that claimed tech billionaire Elon Musk had called for migrants to be hunted in Northern Ireland. The broadcaster admitted the wording was “misleading” and issued a correction after Musk’s legal team threatened action.

ZDF’s statement: “ZDF issued the declaration and removed the passage in question from the introduction.” The station had already added a corrective transparency notice to the broadcast on Saturday.

The clip appeared on ZDFheute Live, a news magazine programme. On Friday 12 June, a presenter opened the segment with a headline: “How Musk is fuelling the protests.” The introduction linked a knife attack in Belfast to a “racist mob hunting migrants,” claiming Musk was behind the call for protests. The claims were tied to a post from far‑right activist Tommy Robinson, who shared a message on Musk’s platform X on 9 June. Musk denied the allegation that he had urged riots and said he would take legal action.

In the weeks before, a brutal knife attack in north Belfast had sparked unrest. Police arrested a Sudanese man who was later charged with attempted murder after the victim was seriously wounded and lost a left eye. The attack led to homes and vehicles set alight, with the incident drawing international scrutiny in a country where migration is a highly charged issue.

Musk’s response to the alleged allegations clarified that he was not involved with the post or the protest call. He has an audience of more than 240 million on X and has faced accusations over his role in inflaming tensions. In 2024, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer accused him of “whipping up division” after the murder of 18‑year‑old Henry Nowak.

The Centre for Countering Digital Hate, a US‑based organisation, said social media had played a significant role in fuelling the Belfast violence, alleging that Musk had amplified anti‑migrant narratives promoted by others. Musk has repeatedly denied these claims, framing the unrest as a result of “murderous migrants” targeting innocent people.