U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for $1 billion over its editing of his January 6, 2021, speech in a documentary aired days before the 2024 election.
The BBC's "Panorama" program, titled “Trump: A Second Chance?,” spliced quotes from different parts of the speech, creating the impression that Trump directly urged supporters to march to the Capitol and “fight like hell.”
In reality, the phrases were separated by nearly an hour, and Trump had called for supporters to demonstrate peacefully and patriotically.
BBC Chairman Samir Shah apologized for the “error of judgment,” acknowledging that the edit gave the impression of a direct call for violent action.
Director-General Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness resigned on Sunday amid accusations of bias and misleading editing.
Davie stated in his resignation letter that he took ultimate responsibility for mistakes made.
Turness said the controversy was damaging the BBC and defended its journalists, insisting there is no institutional bias.
The issue surfaced after the Daily Telegraph published details from a dossier by standards adviser Michael Prescott, who criticized the edit and raised concerns about coverage of transgender issues and anti-Israel bias in the BBC’s Arabic service.
Trump's attorney, Alejandro Brito, demanded a retraction, apology, and compensation in a letter, claiming the edit caused overwhelming financial and reputational harm.
The BBC said it would review the letter and respond in due course.
The scandal has intensified scrutiny of the publicly funded broadcaster, which is bound by its charter to maintain impartiality.
Shah noted the program aimed to convey the speech's message but admitted it would have been better to act earlier.
The BBC received over 500 complaints after the dossier's publication, though few when the documentary first aired.
Critics from various political sides have long accused the BBC of bias, with conservatives highlighting this incident amid a government review of its charter and license fee ahead of 2027 expiration.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesman expressed support for a strong, independent BBC but emphasized the need to correct mistakes quickly.
The broadcaster faces pressure to restore trust while defending its role as a national institution producing thousands of hours of journalism annually.