TLDR:
- BBC faces $1 billion lawsuit threat after editing Trump’s Jan. 6 speech to remove his call for supporters to act “peacefully and patriotically”
- Two top BBC executives resigned Sunday amid the scandal; network received 500+ complaints after leaked memo exposed the deceptive editing
- Trump has now extracted settlements from ABC ($15M) and CBS ($16M), extending his media legal victories across the Atlantic
- British politicians divided over the crisis, with some defending the taxpayer-funded broadcaster against Trump’s “hands off” demands
The BBC is reeling from an editing scandal that could cost the British broadcaster $1 billion and has already claimed two top executives.
President Trump threatened legal action after a leaked memo revealed the BBC’s “Panorama” documentary deceptively edited his Jan. 6, 2021, speech. The program showed Mr. Trump saying, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol, and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell” — but omitted his call for supporters to “peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.”
BBC Director-General Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resigned Sunday amid public and political backlash. BBC Chair Samir Shah apologized for the “error of judgment,” acknowledging the editing “did give the impression of a direct call for violent action.”
Mr. Trump’s legal team gave the BBC a Friday deadline to issue a full retraction, apology and compensation, or face a lawsuit for “defamatory, disparaging, misleading, and inflammatory statements.”
The president has prevailed against U.S. media companies this year, securing a $15 million settlement from ABC News and $16 million from CBS.
Mr. Trump asked Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, “Is this how you treat your best ally?” Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey countered that the government should be “united in telling Trump to keep his hands off it.”
Read more:
• BBC scandal reaches highest ranks as Trump threatens lawsuit; Jan. 6 program badly edited
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The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.
