BBC Issues Apology to Trump Over Panorama Edit Amid Tensions

Fri Dec 05 2025 04:44:29 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The BBC has acknowledged an editing error in a controversial Panorama episode that misrepresented a speech by Donald Trump while rejecting his compensation demands.

The BBC has publicly apologized to Donald Trump for a misleading edit in a Panorama episode that suggested he called for violent action during a speech on January 6, 2021. However, the corporation declined his demands for compensation. This incident followed recent criticisms of the BBC’s editorial standards, leading to significant resignations within its leadership. Amid ongoing tension, further revelations about another misleading edit have emerged.

The BBC has apologised to US President Donald Trump for a Panorama episode that spliced parts of his January 6, 2021 speech together, but rejected his demands for compensation.

The corporation stated the edit provided the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action and confirmed it would not air the 2024 program again.

Trump's legal team threatened to sue the BBC for $1 billion in damages unless the corporation issues a retraction, offers an apology, and compensates him. The culture secretary expressed confidence that the BBC was addressing the matter seriously, asserting the importance of upholding the highest standards.

Lisa Nandy noted the BBC's independence and mentioned her continuous communication with its leadership. The scandal has reportedly led to the resignations of BBC director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness.

In its Corrections and Clarifications section, the BBC confirmed it had reviewed the Panorama program after receiving criticism about the editing of Trump's speech.

Generally, it accepted that its edit unintentionally misrepresented the continuity of the speech, leading to the impression that Trump directly called for violent actions.

There are also new allegations of misleading edits concerning Trump’s speeches, including another clip aired on Newsnight, which has reignited discussions about the BBC’s editorial practices.

The BBC stands by its defense against Trump's claims, arguing that it will vigorously contest the lawsuit and highlighting their belief in its editorial policies.

Overall, this incident underscores ongoing debates regarding media representation and the implications such edits have on public perception and political discourse.