It began with a revelation in *The Telegraph* on November 3. The paper had obtained an internal BBC memo revealing edits made to the broadcaster’s October 2024 *Panorama* programme, specifically concerning two parts of then-US President Donald Trump’s speech in January 2021.
The issue was not merely the editing itself but its liberal application, which suggested that Trump had explicitly incited the Capitol Hill riots on January 6. Through spliced footage, Trump was initially shown promising to walk with his supporters to the Capitol, where he would “fight like hell.” In reality, he had said he would walk with them “to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.”
The *Panorama* special, titled “Trump: A Second Chance?”, further implied that flag-waving men had gathered with menacing intent following the speech. According to the leaked dossier, this “created the impression Trump’s supporters had taken up his ‘call to arms,’” when the footage had actually been shot before the address.
The internal memo, a detailed 19-page document, carried extra weight because it was authored by Michael Prescott, a former external advisor to the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee (EGSC). It also alleged that senior executives, including BBC chairman Samir Shah, had largely dismissed numerous serious complaints submitted by an advisor to the EGSC. There was a general refusal “to accept there had been a breach of standards.”
At the EGSC meeting on May 12, 2025, the corporation’s deputy director of news, Jonathan Munro, downplayed the issue, stating it was “normal practice to edit speeches into short form clips.” He saw no need to balance the *Trump Panorama* special “with an equally aggressive look at [Democratic candidate Kamala] Harris,” arguing that “due impartiality” did not require “companion programmes.”
The Conservatives, eager to regain electoral support, seized the opportunity to criticize the BBC. Former Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the revelations a “total disgrace.” Current Tory leader Kemi Badenoch demanded accountability, while shadow culture secretary Nigel Huddleston said, “The BBC license fee is justified on the basis of impartiality and trust.” He added, “There could be no justification for this kind of deliberate manipulation and the spreading of misinformation.” Huddleston also noted that the corporation had a history of bias, calling this “one of the most stark and alarming examples to date.”
The fallout led to significant consequences, not only because of the *Panorama* programme but also due to wider criticism of the BBC’s coverage of topics such as Gaza and transgender rights. Tim Davie, Director-General of the BBC, and Deborah Turness, CEO of BBC News, both resigned.
In his statement, Davie reflected on “the very intense personal and professional demands of managing this role over many years in these febrile times” and cited his wish “to give a successor time to help the Charter plans they will be delivering.” Although he admitted to “some mistakes” within the organisation, he insisted that the BBC remained “the most trusted news brand globally.”
Turness was more explicit, acknowledging that “the ongoing controversy around the *Panorama* on President Trump has reached a stage where it is causing damage to the BBC, an institution that I love.” While accepting her share of responsibility, she remained “absolutely clear recent allegations that BBC News is institutionally biased are wrong.”
BBC chairman Samir Shah issued a late letter of contrition to the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sports Committee. He conceded that “the way the speech was edited did give the impression of a direct call for violent action” and offered an apology for what he called “an error of judgment.” He admitted that it had been a “foolish thing to do.”
The *Panorama* editing controversy provided British politicians and critics with ammunition to challenge the BBC’s impartiality. It also gave the White House further reasons to argue that the media should not be trusted and could be subjected to aggressive scrutiny. Donald Trump, well-known for battling American news outlets and securing favorable settlements, intensified his campaign against foreign broadcasters.
In December of the previous year, ABC News settled a lawsuit with Trump, agreeing to pay $15 million to Trump’s presidential library after the anchor George Stephanopoulos was accused of inaccurately stating on-air that Trump had been liable for raping E. Jean Carroll. Similarly, in July, Paramount paid $16 million in a settlement related to editorial decisions on a CBS interview with Kamala Harris.
CBS’s parent company succumbed to pressure despite defending its editorial choices. Trump’s Federal Communications Commission appointee, Brendan Carr, aided these settlements, which some argue undermine public trust in news organisations. CBS news anchor John Dickerson raised important questions in his *Reporter’s Notebook* segment: “Can you hold power to account when you’ve paid it millions? Can an audience trust you when you’ve traded away that trust?”
With the BBC admitting fault and a number of high-level resignations, Trump’s legal team has now demanded three things from the corporation: a retraction of the documentary, a formal apology, and financial compensation. If these demands are not met, they intend to pursue legal action seeking $1 billion in damages.
The broader and perhaps most chastening question remains: why did the *Panorama* team feel the need to splice and manipulate footage in the first place, given the BBC’s reputation for rigorous, above-reproach news coverage? The corporation’s former North America editor, Jon Sopel, summed it up plainly: “You do not leave any room for error; you just have to be scrupulous.”
Ironically, Donald Trump provides ample material for documentary makers without the need for elaborate edits or forced abridgments. A man capable of being hoisted by his own petard, he serves content on a silver platter — yet those in the news business just can’t help themselves.
https://dissidentvoice.org/2025/11/the-bbcs-foolish-gift-to-donald-trump/