BBC Apologizes to Trump for Edited Speech But Refuses to Give Compensation
The BBC has issued a formal apology to US President Donald Trump following the controversy surrounding its Panorama documentary, which aired last year. The programme, which was broadcast shortly before the 2024 US election, faced criticism for editing Trump's 6 January 2021 speech in a way that suggested he called for violent action ahead of the Capitol riot. The broadcaster acknowledged that the edit gave the "mistaken impression" that Trump was directly encouraging violence, but it strongly rejected his legal team's demand for $1bn in damages.
In a statement, the BBC expressed regret over the "error of judgment" made during the editing process. The corporation also confirmed that the documentary, Trump: A Second Chance?, will not be shown again on any BBC platform. However, the BBC firmly disagreed with Trump's claim of defamation, stating that there was no legal basis for such a suit.
Trump’s legal team had threatened to sue for damages unless the BBC issued a "full and fair retraction," publicly apologized, and provided compensation. The White House has not commented on the matter, referring inquiries to Trump's outside counsel. Despite the legal threats, BBC lawyers have asserted that the documentary did not harm Trump’s reputation, pointing out that the programme was not broadcast in the US and did not affect his subsequent re-election bid.
The apology follows internal and external pressure, including the resignation of BBC Director-General Tim Davie and BBC News Chief Deborah Turness. Both stepped down amid growing concerns over the programme’s editorial integrity. The controversy was compounded by a similar issue with the Newsnight show, which also aired a spliced version of the same speech in 2022, further fueling criticism of the BBC's editorial practices.
In response to these developments, BBC Chair Samir Shah sent a personal letter to the White House, reiterating the BBC’s regret over the editing issue. The broadcaster has said it holds itself to the highest editorial standards and is reviewing the situation to ensure similar mistakes are not repeated.
Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey has weighed in, urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to intervene and pressure Trump to drop his $1bn lawsuit. Meanwhile, the BBC continues to face scrutiny from both sides of the political spectrum regarding its perceived bias, with some accusing it of left-wing leanings. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has also criticized the BBC for its alleged bias, fueling further public debate on the broadcaster’s impartiality.
