Major Apology Issued
The national broadcaster apologises to US President Donald Trump for an edited Panorama segment that merged parts of his 6 January 2021 speech. Editors say the cut falsely suggested Trump directly urged violent action. The organisation withdraws the 2024 programme from circulation.
Trump’s legal team threatens a $1bn lawsuit and demands a retraction, an apology, and compensation. The scandal triggers the resignations of Director General Tim Davie and News Chief Deborah Turness on Sunday. The broadcaster asks the White House for comment.
Another Edited Clip Revealed
The apology follows hours after the Daily Telegraph uncovers a second altered clip from a 2022 Newsnight episode.
In its “Corrections and Clarifications” section, the broadcaster says it reviewed the Panorama episode after rising criticism. Lawyers had set a deadline of Friday 22:00 GMT.
“We accept our edit unintentionally created the impression of a continuous moment in the speech,” the statement says. Executives admit this made it appear that Trump issued a direct call to violence.
A spokesperson says lawyers for the organisation responded to Trump’s attorneys. Chair Samir Shah also sent a personal letter to the White House expressing regret. The spokesperson adds: “We regret the edit, but we strongly dispute any basis for a defamation claim.”
Trump’s Words in Full
Trump told supporters: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol and cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women.”
More than 50 minutes later he said: “And we fight. We fight like hell.”
The Panorama segment presents these lines as one sequence. Trump tells Fox News his speech was “butchered” and says the presentation “defrauded” viewers.
His legal team demands a “full and fair retraction” and compensation. The broadcaster outlines five reasons it denies wrongdoing.
Broadcaster Outlines Its Defence
First, the broadcaster states the Panorama episode never aired in the US and was only available in the UK.
Second, it argues Trump suffered no harm because he won re-election shortly afterwards.
Third, it says the edit aimed to shorten a long speech and carried no malicious intent.
Fourth, it notes the clip lasted only twelve seconds within a one-hour programme that included pro-Trump commentary.
Fifth, it highlights that political speech enjoys strong protection under US defamation law.
An insider says the organisation has strong confidence in its defence. The Culture Department declines to comment when approached. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey urges the prime minister to call Trump to help halt the lawsuit threat and defend the broadcaster’s independence.
Newsnight Accused of Misleading Edit
A new claim emerges on Thursday. A 2022 Newsnight episode allegedly misrepresents Trump’s speech in a similar way.
The segment 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 his words to scenes from the Capitol riots.
Former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney says the clip “spliced together” separate parts of the speech. He says the fighting words appear much later in Trump’s remarks.
A spokesperson says the broadcaster holds itself to the “highest editorial standards” and is reviewing the matter. Trump’s legal team says the organisation shows “a pattern of defamation.”
The wider dispute begins after a leaked memo from a former external adviser appears in the Telegraph. The document also criticises reporting on trans issues and the Arabic service’s coverage of the Israel-Gaza conflict.
