The BBC has issued a formal apology to US President Donald Trump for broadcasting a documentary that misrepresented his speech given just days before the 2021 Capitol riot. The network acknowledged that an episode of its Panorama series created the mistaken impression that Trump had directly called for violent action against his supporters, who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. The apology, delivered by BBC Chair Samir Shah through a personal letter to the White House, included a promise not to rebroadcast the documentary on any platforms. While the BBC expressed regret over the editing, it emphasized that it does not believe there is a basis for a defamation claim.
Trump, who has consistently denied inciting the riot and accused the media of fabricating news, threatened to sue the BBC for $1 billion unless the apology and retraction were made. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt characterized the BBC as a “leftist propaganda machine,” further inflaming the controversy. The incident has led to the resignations of BBC Director-General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness, with several British legislators criticizing the network. Conservative Party leader Kemi Bedinoch called the edit of Trump’s speech “absolutely shocking,” highlighting the growing political and reputational fallout for the BBC.
A BBC spokesperson defended the network’s actions, stating that while the edit was deceptive, the corporation does not believe it made any false claims that could be considered defamation. The spokesperson noted that the documentary was intended to provide context to the events of January 6, 2021, and that the editing was done to highlight specific quotes without altering the overall message. However, the perception of bias and political motivation has remained a contentious issue. Trump’s legal team has argued that the editing was a deliberate attempt to influence public opinion and damage his political standing, further complicating the situation.