Apology Sparks New Questions
The national broadcaster apologises to US President Donald Trump after Panorama editors merged parts of his 6 January 2021 speech. The cut created the false impression that Trump directly urged violent action. The 2024 episode will not air again.
Trump’s lawyers threaten a $1bn lawsuit and demand a retraction, an apology, and compensation. The scandal pushes Director General Tim Davie and News Chief Deborah Turness to resign on Sunday. The broadcaster seeks comment from the White House.
Fresh Controversial Footage Exposed
The apology comes hours after the Daily Telegraph reveals another 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 legal team set a Friday 22:00 GMT deadline for a response.
“We accept our edit unintentionally created the impression of a continuous section of the speech,” the organisation says. Executives admit it made it look as though Trump issued a direct call to violence.
A spokesperson confirms lawyers for the broadcaster replied 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.”
What Trump Actually Said That Day
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 segment merges these lines into one. 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 denies any wrongdoing.
Organisation Sets Out Five Arguments
First, the episode never aired in the US and was restricted to UK viewers.
Second, Trump suffered no harm because he was re-elected soon afterwards.
Third, the edit aimed to shorten a lengthy speech and was not malicious.
Fourth, the clip lasted only twelve seconds within a one-hour programme containing supportive voices.
Fifth, political speech enjoys strong protection under US defamation law.
An insider says leaders strongly back their case. The Culture Department declines to comment. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey urges the prime minister to call Trump. He wants the lawsuit threat stopped and the broadcaster’s independence defended.
Newsnight Faces Similar Allegation
A new allegation arises on Thursday. A 2022 Newsnight episode appears to misrepresent Trump’s speech in the same 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 from the Capitol riots.
Former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney says the video “spliced together” separate parts of the speech. He says the fighting words came much later.
A spokesperson says the broadcaster upholds the “highest editorial standards” and is reviewing the matter. Trump’s legal team claims the organisation has shown “a pattern of defamation.”
The conflict intensifies 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.
