The BBC is set to issue an apology on Monday following allegations it misled viewers by editing a Donald Trump speech in a Panorama documentary. The controversy centers on footage from January 6, 2021, where the broadcaster allegedly spliced clips to show Trump urging supporters to "fight like hell" while omitting his call to "peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard."
An internal memo by Michael Prescott, a former adviser to the BBC's editorial standards committee, described the editing as "completely misleading." The Trump administration responded forcefully, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt telling The Telegraph the clip was "100 per cent fake news" and calling the BBC a "leftist propaganda machine."
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy expressed confidence in BBC leadership despite what she called "very serious allegations" of systemic bias. Speaking on BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, she said: "I have complete confidence that both Samir Shah, the chair of the BBC, and (BBC director-general) Tim Davie are treating this with the seriousness that this demands." Nandy added that the broadcaster's editorial decisions are "not always well thought through."
Political Dispute
The row sparked a public clash between former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and BBC presenter Nick Robinson. Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Johnson accused the broadcaster of "arrogance" and demanded answers from director-general Tim Davie. Robinson fired back on X, writing: "Hands up all those who think (Boris Johnson) is well placed to lecture anyone else on upholding standards (and) admitting mistakes."
BBC Chairman Samir Shah will provide a full response to Parliament's Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Monday. The committee's chair, Dame Caroline Dinenage, stated the BBC "has serious questions to answer" regarding editorial standards and how senior management handles concerns.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
