Calls for unity with Hayali and Theveßen, as per Ramelow's plea

Debate over untruths to Charlie Kirk on ZDF leads to call for a ban on former US ambassador Grenell's entry by Germany's vice-president of the Bundestag, Ramelow. He also endorses the inaccurate claims made by ZDF journalists Theveßen and Hayali, who have recently announced a hiatus.

, and ASMedia

2025 September 19 . 10:36 AM

2 min read

Rephrased: Ramelow calls for unity with Hayali and Theveßen

Calls for unity with Hayali and Theveßen, as per Ramelow's plea

In a series of recent events, Thuringia's former governor, Bodo Ramelow, has been actively involved in a dispute involving ZDF journalists Dunja Hayali and Elmar Theveßen.

Ramelow's government in Thuringia was a red-red-green minority, with the tolerance of the CDU. Recently, Ramelow has shown support for Hayali and Theveßen, who have been embroiled in a controversy over hate speech and false statements about the murdered US debater, Charlie Kirk.

Hayali had accused Kirk of making 'abhorrent sexist, racist, and human-hating statements' in her introduction to a report on his murder. This accusation sparked a heated response, with some foreign users celebrating Kirk's murder, a situation that US Deputy Secretary of State Christoph Landau has described as 'horrifying.'

Landau has taken action, instructing consulates to take 'appropriate measures' against users celebrating Kirk's murder. He has also put a kind of seal on the contribution with the Spanish term 'El Quitavisas' (German: the visa withdrawer). Previously, US special envoy Richard Grenell had demanded a visa withdrawal for Theveßen, a move that Ramelow's latest suggestion for an entry ban for Grenell is in response to.

Ramelow has criticised the reactions to the statements of the ZDF journalists, labelling them as 'hate and incitement.' He has also spoken of 'unsocial media and irresponsible politicians.' Hayali herself has claimed to have received critical emails and death threats because of her statements, and announced that she might need a break from her work due to the stress.

In a twist of events, almost simultaneously, Ramelow accused Stephen Miller, Jewish security advisor to US President Donald Trump, of coming 'from the ideology of the Third Reich.'

Despite his succession as Minister-President of Thuringia by Mario Voigt on December 12, 2024, Ramelow continues to make headlines with his strong stance on issues of hate speech and political responsibility.