‘Who drove the car?’: JD Vance and Elon Musk criticize ‘legacy media’ for misleading headlines about attack on German Christmas market

The AP and other media outlets were flooded with criticism from Internet users who accused the legacy media of bias and misrepresentation.

A car driven by a Saudi man deliberately plowed into a busy Christmas market in Magdeburg, Germany, on Saturday, killing two people and injuring at least 60 others. The tragedy, described by authorities as a deliberate attack, shocked the nation. However, headlines from prominent publications, including the Associated Press (AP), have drawn strong criticism for their language, which critics say downplays the driver’s responsibility.
The AP’s headline, “A car plows into a group of people at a Christmas market in Germany,” was widely condemned because it suggested the car was operating autonomously without mentioning the driver, who was later identified as a Saudi national. The backlash intensified after confirmed bystander footage showed the driver being arrested at the scene of the accident.

Community note adds context
“A man from Saudi Arabia deliberately drove the car into the Christmas market as a terrorist attack.”
JD Vance challenges the media narrative
US Senator JD Vance joined the critics, posting on

Internet users react angrily
The AP and other media outlets were flooded with criticism from Internet users who accused the legacy media of bias and misrepresentation.
One user wrote: “Seriously @AP? Are you kidding us with this headline? If it was a white guy driving, it would be shouted in every headline. But since it is a Saudi, ignore the identity of the driver.”
Another added: “So it’s clear to everyone: This is what it looks like when a car drives into a group of people.” Nothing close to the passive headline the AP wrote. Just another reason you don’t hate the old media enough!”

Some went further, accusing the AP of downplaying religious and cultural implications. In a survey conducted on

Elon Musk takes aim at legacy media
Elon Musk also joined the discussion, criticizing not only the AP but also other media outlets for similar headlines. Musk wrote, “You don’t hate the lying legacy media enough,” adding to criticism of established news organizations.

The criticism also extends to other channels
The backlash wasn’t just limited to the AP. The Guardian also came under fire for its headline describing the car as a “dark BMW” without mentioning the driver. One user commented: “Hey @guardian, I’m pretty sure a ‘dark BMW’ didn’t decide to drive into a crowd enjoying their Christmas market. Stop insulting our intelligence.”

Another user added: “This headline pretty much sums up the last decade in journalism. It is passive, misleading and avoids the hard truths.”