El Hotzo's not-guilty verdict will be rejected by the prosecution.
In a ruling on July 23, 2025, the Berlin-Tiergarten Local Court acquitted German comedian Sebastian Hotz, alias El Hotzo, of charges related to his satirical social media posts about the 2024 assassination attempt on former U.S. President Donald Trump[1][3][4][5]. The court determined that Hotz's comments, though distasteful, were protected as satire and did not incite violence or disrupt public order[1][3].
The controversy began when Hotz made a post on the platform X, comparing the shots at Trump to the "last bus" and stating, "I find it absolutely fantastic when fascists die." The posts created a stir, leading to a shitstorm in online media and numerous criminal complaints against Hotz[6][7]. The posts were deemed suitable to disturb the public peace due to Hotz's significant reach, as he has around 740,000 followers on the platform X[8].
Despite the initial acquittal, the Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office lodged an appeal against the ruling[9]. The Public Prosecutor's Office argued that Hotz's posts created a climate in which attacks on state officials could thrive[10]. The appeal is ongoing, and its outcome depends on the written grounds for the decision[11].
The Public Prosecutor's Office had initially demanded a fine of 6,000 euros for Hotz's posts[12]. As a result of the controversy, the public broadcaster ARD's radio station Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB) ended its cooperation with Hotz on the youth radio station Fritz[13].
Judge Andrea Wilms, in her ruling, emphasized that despite the poor taste of the comments, they were protected as satire and not legally actionable[1]. The judge ruled that Hotz's posts humorously suggested Trump "just missed" the attempt and expressed satisfaction when fascists die, which prosecutors had interpreted as endorsing the shooting[1][2]. However, the court viewed these as protected speech under democratic debate principles[1][3].
The attack on Donald Trump in Pennsylvania occurred in mid-July 2024, resulting in one death and two injuries[2]. The attacker was killed by security forces[2]. Sebastian Hotz, alias El Hotzo, made the controversial post shortly after the attack[2].
References: 1. Berliner Morgenpost 2. Deutsche Welle 3. Tagesspiegel 4. Die Welt 5. Bild 6. Spiegel Online 7. FAZ 8. Berliner Zeitung 9. Tagesspiegel 10. Deutsche Welle 11. Bild 12. Spiegel Online 13. FAZ
- "During the ongoing appeal process, topics such as the controversial satirical posts by Sebastian Hotz, alias El Hotzo, have become centerpieces of general-news discussions on radio stations like ARD's Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB)."
- "In the realm of crime-and-justice, the case of Sebastian Hotz, alias El Hotzo, highlights the complexities of balancing freedom of speech with public order, as his satirical posts about a political figure sparked a heated debate and an appeal from the Berlin Public Prosecutor's Office."
