Donald Trump Condemns BBC Over Panorama Video Controversy
Michael Prescott, a former independent adviser to the BBC's Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee, leaked a memo exposing how the corporation manipulated footage of President Donald Trump. This alteration made it seem as though Trump encouraged the Capitol Hill riots.
Details from Michael Prescott's Memo
Prescott, who served three years before stepping down in June, sent a critical internal report to the BBC Board after his repeated concerns were ignored. The memo reveals the BBC "doctored" Trump's speech during an October 2024 Panorama broadcast, creating a misleading narrative.
The "mangled" excerpt "completely misled" viewers by showing the President saying he would walk to the Capitol with supporters to "fight like hell," while he actually stated he would walk with them "to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard."
Response from Trump's Press Office
Karoline Leavitt, Trump's press secretary, strongly rejected the clip, branding it as "100 per cent fake news." This statement comes amid increasing international pressure on BBC executives Tim Davie and Deborah Turness for accountability.
Context and Impact
- BBC's Panorama program aired the contested segment in October 2024.
- Prescott accused the broadcaster of ignoring internal warnings about journalistic standards.
- The controversy intensifies scrutiny on the BBC's editorial practices worldwide.
Summary: A leaked memo exposes how the BBC altered a Trump speech to distort his words about the Capitol riots, fueling a fierce rebuttal from his team and raising global concerns about media integrity.