German satirist El Hotzo acquitted over Trump assassination remarks in free speech victory
A German court has acquitted satirist El Hotzo over controversial comments he made about the July 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump. The case drew widespread attention after nearly 50 criminal complaints were filed against him. El Hotzo, who describes himself as an 'internet clown', had called the attack 'absolutely fantastic' when fascists die.
El Hotzo posted his remarks on X, where he has over 700,000 followers. He compared the shooting to a 'last bus' and wrote, 'Unfortunately just missed', adding that it was 'fantastic' when fascists died. The posts were later deleted due to the strong backlash.
Prosecutor Frank Mohr argued that the comments carried 'a certain incitement' and went beyond ordinary political criticism. Defence attorney Carolin Lütcke countered that the statements were jokes, not meant to be taken seriously. She warned that a conviction could set a dangerous precedent for satirists. Presiding Judge Gregor Herb ruled that El Hotzo's words did not undermine public trust in the rule of law or incite aggression. The decision aligns with previous rulings, including a 2024/2025 Berlin Kammergericht case that upheld an acquittal for similar provocative statements about Trump. The German Journalists' Association (DJV) had earlier criticised the decision to reopen the case, calling it an unnecessary restriction on free expression.
The court's ruling confirms that El Hotzo's comments were protected as satire under German law. The case had raised concerns about the limits of free speech for satirists in political discourse. With the acquittal, no further legal action will be taken against him.
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