BBC Chairperson Samir Shah acknowledged on Monday that the editing of a 2024 BBC documentary about former U.S. President Donald Trump was an “error of judgment,” marking the broadcaster’s first formal admission of fault following the resignations of Director General Tim Davie and Chief Executive of News Deborah Turness a day earlier.
Shah stated that the internal review concluded the program’s editing choices had “created the impression of a direct call for violent action,” which misrepresented the context of Trump’s original remarks. “The BBC would like to apologise for that error of judgment,” he said in an official statement.
The resignations of two of the network’s most senior executives came after mounting criticism that the documentary distorted Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech, delivered shortly before the U.S. Capitol riots, to suggest he had incited violence. The controversy has intensified existing scrutiny over the BBC’s editorial impartiality, particularly in its coverage of American politics, the Israel–Hamas conflict, and gender identity issues.
At the heart of the scandal is Panorama, the BBC’s long-running investigative programme. According to a whistleblower memo obtained by The Telegraph, editors allegedly cut key portions of Trump’s speech while retaining the phrase “fight like hell,” a choice that appeared to frame his rhetoric as a direct call to insurrection. The edited version sparked public outrage and political backlash, particularly from Trump’s supporters, who accused the BBC of deliberate bias and narrative manipulation.
The incident has reignited debate over media ethics, accountability, and editorial oversight within the BBC, which has faced several controversies in recent years regarding its handling of politically sensitive material.
The broadcaster has promised a comprehensive review of its editorial standards and verification procedures to prevent similar lapses.
