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The BBC has issued a formal apology to former U.S. President Donald Trump for its 'error of judgment' in the editing of a speech for its flagship current affairs program, 'Panorama.' The move comes after Trump threatened to sue the broadcaster for $1 billion over the documentary, which focused on the events of January 6, 2021.
The controversy revolves around the way the program edited a speech Trump gave on the day of the Capitol riot. The documentary, titled 'This Is Not A Coup,' allegedly removed a portion of the speech where Trump urged his supporters to 'go home peacefully.' A leaked internal BBC memo acknowledged that by splicing footage and removing context, the program may have misled viewers about the timeline of events. Following the broadcast, Trump’s legal team threatened action against the broadcaster, giving a deadline of November 14 for a 'full and fair retraction' or face a significant lawsuit.
The fallout from the incident has been substantial within the British broadcasting corporation, leading to the resignation of its Director-General, Tim Davie. His successor, BBC Chairman Samir Shah, addressed the issue directly in a formal letter to Trump. In the letter, Shah stated, 'The BBC wishes to express its regret for this error of judgment,' confirming that the segment did not meet the broadcaster's high standards of accuracy and impartiality. Shah emphasized that while the edit was a mistake, it was not made with malicious intent.
In his apology, Shah formally expressed regret for the controversial editing choice and outlined the internal turmoil the decision had caused. The BBC has since been under intense scrutiny over its editorial standards. The corporation's handling of the situation is seen as a critical test of its commitment to impartiality, a core principle of its public service remit. The event is one of a series of recent scandals that have placed the institution's leadership and editorial processes under a microscope. Despite the apology, it remains unclear whether Trump's legal team will consider the matter resolved or proceed with legal action.
