Apology Sparks Intensifying Backlash
The national broadcaster apologises to US President Donald Trump after Panorama producers merged parts of his 6 January 2021 speech. The edit wrongly suggested Trump directly urged violent action. The 2024 episode will not be shown again.
Trump’s legal team threatens a $1bn lawsuit and demands a retraction, an apology, and compensation. The scandal triggers the resignations of Director General Tim Davie and News Chief Deborah Turness on Sunday. The broadcaster contacts the White House for comment.
Another Problematic Edit Revealed
The apology follows hours after the Daily Telegraph uncovers a second edited clip from a 2022 Newsnight episode.
In its “Corrections and Clarifications” section, the broadcaster says it reviewed the Panorama programme after criticism. Trump’s lawyers set a reply deadline of Friday 22:00 GMT.
“We accept our edit unintentionally created the impression of a continuous passage,” the statement says. Executives concede the cut made it appear Trump issued a direct call to violence.
A spokesperson confirms the broadcaster’s lawyers have responded to Trump’s team. Chair Samir Shah also sent a personal letter to the White House expressing regret. The spokesperson adds: “We regret the edit, but we reject any basis for a defamation claim.”
Context Behind Trump’s Comments
Trump told supporters: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol and cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women.”
Over 50 minutes later he said: “And we fight. We fight like hell.”
The Panorama edit links these lines as one sequence. Trump tells Fox News the broadcast “butchered” his words and “defrauded” viewers.
His lawyers demand a “full and fair retraction” and compensation. The broadcaster outlines five reasons it disputes any wrongdoing.
Organisation Details Its Defence
First, the Panorama episode never aired in the US and remained restricted to UK viewers.
Second, Trump suffered no harm because he won re-election soon afterwards.
Third, the edit shortened a long speech and lacked malice.
Fourth, the clip lasted twelve seconds within a one-hour programme that included supportive voices.
Fifth, political speech enjoys strong protection under US defamation law.
An insider says leaders stand firm behind their case. The Culture Department declines to comment. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey urges the prime minister to call Trump to stop the lawsuit threat and defend the broadcaster’s independence.
Newsnight Faces Repeat Allegations
A fresh complaint emerges on Thursday. A 2022 Newsnight episode appears to misrepresent Trump’s 6 January speech in a similar way.
The edit shows Trump saying: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol… And we fight. We fight like hell. And if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.”
A voiceover then links these words to images of the Capitol riots.
Former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney says the clip “spliced together” different parts of the speech. He says the fighting line came much later.
A spokesperson says the broadcaster maintains “the highest editorial standards” and is examining the issue. Trump’s legal team argues the organisation shows “a pattern of defamation.”
The dispute grows after the Telegraph publishes a leaked memo from a former external adviser. The document also criticises reporting on trans issues and the Arabic service’s coverage of the Israel-Gaza war.
