The BBC has issued an apology to former US President Donald Trump for a Panorama episode that inaccurately edited his speech, creating the false impression that he had directly incited violence. However, the corporation has firmly rejected Trump’s demand for compensation. The controversial edit, which aired in 2024, spliced segments of Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech, leading to widespread criticism and the resignations of BBC Director General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness. The BBC acknowledged the error in its Corrections and Clarifications section, stating that the edit unintentionally misrepresented the sequence of Trump’s remarks. Despite the apology, the BBC maintains that there is no basis for a defamation claim. Trump’s legal team has threatened to sue the BBC for $1 billion unless a retraction, apology, and compensation are provided. This incident follows a similar controversy in 2022, when a Newsnight programme also edited Trump’s speech, prompting further scrutiny of the BBC’s editorial practices. The BBC has assured that it adheres to the highest editorial standards and is investigating the matter.
BBC apologises to Trump over Panorama edit but refuses to pay compensation
