BBC chairman apologises to Donald Trump for misleading speech edit but denies defamation basis as broadcaster investigates second editing incident.
LONDON: The BBC has apologised to US President Donald Trump for a misleading edit of one of his speeches but rejected grounds for a defamation lawsuit.
BBC Chair Samir Shah sent a personal letter to the White House expressing regret for the edit that aired in a documentary last year.
The edit gave the impression Trump directly urged “violent action” before the January 6, 2021 Capitol assault by his supporters.
“While the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited, we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim,” the broadcaster stated.
BBC lawyers have written to Trump’s legal team responding to his threat of a USD 1 billion lawsuit.
The controversy prompted BBC director-general Tim Davie and top news executive Deborah Turness to resign on Sunday.
The broadcaster is now investigating a possible second instance of misleading editing of Trump’s speeches.
The Telegraph reported a June 2022 “Newsnight” programme edited phrases from different parts of Trump’s speech together.
This created the false impression he urged supporters to go to the Capitol and “fight like hell”.
A BBC spokesperson confirmed: “This matter has been brought to our attention and we are now looking into it.”
The editing row emerges during a politically sensitive period for the BBC as it prepares to renegotiate its Royal Charter.
The current charter outlining the corporation’s governance will expire in 2027.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government faces the challenge of supporting BBC independence while avoiding confrontation with Trump. – AFP
