LONDON: The BBC today issued an apology for editing a 2021 speech by former US President Donald Trump. The BBC said the edit video of Trump created the false impression that he made “a direct call for violent action” before the Capitol riots.
In a letter to MPs, BBC Chairman Samir Shah said the broadcaster accepted that the edit in its flagship documentary was misleading.
“The BBC would like to apologise for that error of judgement,” Shah said, promising stronger editorial oversight across departments. The apology came hours after Director General Tim Davie and BBC News CEO Deborah Turness resigned amid escalating criticism over the edit.
Political and Public Reaction
Trump celebrated the resignations, calling BBC journalists “corrupt” and “dishonest.” His press secretary labelled the broadcaster “100 percent fake news.”
However, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesman defended the BBC’s public role, saying, “The BBC has a vital role in an age of disinformation.”
The controversy comes ahead of a sensitive BBC charter review, which defines the corporation’s funding and governance. The current charter expires in 2027.
Crisis Deepens Inside the BBC
Former BBC journalist Karen Fowler-Watt described the situation as “a crisis,” saying the institution faces mounting political pressure from both right and left.
While Conservative figures like Kemi Badenoch welcomed the resignations, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey urged Starmer to tell Trump to “keep his hands off the BBC.”
Notably, the edited clips reflected the impression that Trump asked his supporters to fight like hell. The Daily Telegraph revealed that an internal memo flagged impartiality concerns about the documentary involving Donald Trump. The BBC management maintained that such mistakes would not be repeated.
