Moment Greta Thunberg laughs at climate protests she started after ditching cause for Gaza: ‘They’re still doing that?’

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Activist Greta Thunberg broke out into hysterical laughter when she learned that the climate change group she founded was still protesting. Thunberg looked shocked when she was informed that she was filming a documentary the same day Fridays for Future, which she had formed in 2018 when she was just 15, was holding a protest in Berlin. “Is it?” she asked, looking surprised before breaking into loud laughter. “Really? They still do that?”

Thunberg’s bizarre reaction came as part of her appearance in “On Tanks into the Climate Crisis How Activism is Criminalised” documentary. 3 Activist Greta Thunberg reacts during an interview on the documentary “On Tanks into the Climate Crisis – How Activism is Criminalised.” YouTube/Hubertus Koch 3 Climate activists Kyra Gantois, left, Anuna De Wever and Greta Thunberg join a Youth For Climate protest in Antwerp, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019.

AFP via Getty Images She and her friend continue cracking up, as Thunberg, now 23, yells, “Cut!” Thunberg recently made news for traveling on a so-called freedom flotilla to deliver aid to Gaza. Thunberg’s hysterical laughter drew criticism online, with many claiming it was directed at the young protesters who are continuing the demonstrations she began. Explore More Missing teen is found alive after 6 days in the woods Trump, Netanyahu get into ‘shouting match from hell’ over Iran war, Israeli media reports Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff arrive at Kremlin for Putin talks “Greta is the OG LARPer, cosplaying a climate activist,” one person on X wrote.

“Climate was just the warm-up. Hating Israel is the real job,” another user wrote. The documentarian, Hubertus Koch, described the joke as being “right on the edge,” while still hailing Thunberg for her activism fighting climate change and the war in Gaza . 3 Activist Greta Thunberg attends a gathering outside Paul Eluard high school during a protest in Saint-Denis, near Paris, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. AP Photo/John Leicester Fridays for Future began in August 2018 when the Swedish activist started skipping school every Friday to protest outside the Swedish parliament.

Thunberg gained notoriety over the demonstrations and has continued to speak out against climate change, including her latest appearance at the Cop31 climate summit in Turkey on Thursday.

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What we found (2)

The New York Post's headline says Greta Thunberg ditched the climate cause for Gaza, but its own closing lines report that she still speaks out on climate change and has just appeared at Cop31. In its own voice the Post also adds loaded words such as "hysterical", "bizarre", "so-called" and "notoriety" that pass a verdict its reporting does not support.

Headline goes beyond the article
Serious
“after ditching cause for Gaza”
Why this matters
The words "after ditching cause for Gaza" tell the reader, in the Post's own headline voice, that Thunberg has abandoned climate campaigning.
The impression it gives
A reader believes Thunberg has given up on climate activism and now works only on Gaza.
The context
The Post's own body contradicts this. It reports that she has continued to speak out against climate change and appeared at the Cop31 climate summit, and that the documentarian praised her for fighting both climate change and the war in Gaza. The Daily Mail also reports her arriving at the UN climate talks.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“has continued to speak out against climate change, including her latest appearance at the Cop31 climate summit”
- Elsewhere in the article“hailing Thunberg for her activism fighting climate change and the war in Gaza”
- Daily Mail reported“Thunberg arrived at UN climate talks on Tuesday”Greta Thunberg laughs at protesters still participating in Fridays For Future - the climate movement she started before focusing on Gaza: 'They're still doing that?!' (opens in a new tab)
Show it in the article
“laughs at climate protests she started”
Why this matters
The headline states as fact that Thunberg was laughing at the protests themselves.
The impression it gives
A reader believes it is established that Thunberg was mocking the young protesters.
The context
The body reports only that she laughed on learning a protest was taking place. It attributes the claim that the laughter was aimed at the protesters to online critics, and it quotes the documentarian calling it a joke.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“with many claiming it was directed at the young protesters”
- Elsewhere in the article“described the joke as being”
Show it in the article
Written straight
Greta Thunberg laughs on camera on learning a Fridays for Future protest is still going on. She continues to campaign on climate change as well as Gaza.
Uses a loaded word
Minor
“hysterical laughter”
Why this matters
The Post's opening line calls the laughter "hysterical" in its own voice.
The impression it gives
A reader takes Thunberg's reaction as unhinged before seeing any detail of the clip.
The context
The body describes loud laughter shared with a friend, which the documentarian treated as a joke. Nothing in the reporting supports "hysterical" as a description.
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“She and her friend continue cracking up”
Show it in the article
“bizarre reaction”
Why this matters
The word "bizarre" passes a verdict on Thunberg's behaviour in the Post's voice.
The impression it gives
A reader is told the reaction was strange and inappropriate, as a matter of fact.
The context
This is the outlet's judgement, not something the facts reported establish. The documentarian called it a joke "right on the edge".
How we know
- Elsewhere in the article“described the joke as being “right on the edge,””
Show it in the article
“so-called freedom flotilla”
Why this matters
The Post puts "so-called" before the flotilla's name, casting doubt on the voyage in its own voice.
The impression it gives
A reader takes the aid mission as something not to be taken at face value.
The context
The same sentence says the flotilla's purpose was to deliver aid to Gaza. The Daily Mail describes it plainly as the aid flotilla Israel intercepted.
How we know
- Daily Mail reported“warships intercepted the aid flotilla headed for Gaza she was on”Greta Thunberg laughs at protesters still participating in Fridays For Future - the climate movement she started before focusing on Gaza: 'They're still doing that?!' (opens in a new tab)
Show it in the article
“gained notoriety”
Why this matters
The word "notoriety" frames Thunberg's fame as disreputable.
The impression it gives
A reader takes her prominence from the school strikes as something shameful.
The context
The Daily Mail says plainly that she rose to fame as the face of the youth climate movement. Nothing in the article supports the negative charge carried by "notoriety".
How we know
- Daily Mail reported“Thunberg first rose to fame as the face of the youth climate movement”Greta Thunberg laughs at protesters still participating in Fridays For Future - the climate movement she started before focusing on Gaza: 'They're still doing that?!' (opens in a new tab)
Show it in the article

How other outlets reported it

Daily MailGreta Thunberg laughs at protesters still participating in Fridays For Future - the climate movement she started before focusing on Gaza: 'They're still doing that?!' (opens in a new tab)

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Moment Greta Thunberg laughs at climate protests she started after ditching cause for Gaza: ‘They’re still doing that?’

Headline goes beyond the article

Uses a loaded word

How other outlets reported it

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