Musk’s lawyer Joachim Steinhöfel labeled the outcome a clear victory.
“The libelous defamation of Mr. Musk by ZDF was journalistically completely unjustifiable,” Steinhöfel told POLITICO. “Thus, I am pleased by our successful enforcement of the cease-and-desist undertaking.”
The legal battle focuses on the anti-immigrant riots that shook Northern Ireland last week. Belfast endured several nights of violence, with mobs attacking property linked to migrant communities, leaving police scrambling to contain the unrest.
As tensions escalated, British far-right activist Tommy Robinson and founder of the far-right Restore UK party Rupert Lowe promoted the protests online. Musk amplified their posts on X, then on June 9 wrote: “Only by protesting REPEATEDLY and LOUDLY will there be any change!!”
Three days later, a ZDF presenter opened a segment on the riots with an allegation: “A racist mob went on a hunt for migrants. This was called for by a British right-wing extremist and tech millionaire Elon Musk.”
Musk fired back almost immediately. “Legal action is being taken against ZDF for their outrageous lies,” he posted on X.