UK opposition leader Kemi Badenoch has demanded sackings at the BBC following revelations that a Panorama documentary misleadingly edited a speech by former US President Donald Trump, creating a false impression that he directly incited the Capitol riot. This has sparked a cross-party political outcry and raised serious questions about the broadcaster’s editorial integrity.
The controversy erupted after The Telegraph obtained an internal memo detailing how the BBC’s Panorama program, titled ‘Trump: A Second Chance?’, edited Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech. The edit combined two segments from over 50 minutes apart, making it appear as though Trump explicitly urged his supporters to ‘fight like hell’ while marching to the Capitol, when in reality, the phrases were taken from different contexts.
Specifically, the program showed Trump saying, ‘We’re going to walk down to the Capitol… and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.’ However, the ‘fight like hell’ comment was originally from a section where Trump discussed election corruption, not the Capitol march. This was followed by footage of protesters marching, which was filmed before Trump began speaking, further distorting the sequence of events.
The leaked memo, written by former BBC external adviser Michael Prescott, accused the documentary of a ‘distortion of the day’s events’ and suggested it undermined public trust. It was sent to the BBC board last month, prompting the House of Commons culture, media and sport committee to intervene by writing to BBC chairman Samir Shah for answers on what action is being taken.
In response, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the edits ‘absolutely shocking’ and ‘fake news’ during a GB News interview, demanding that BBC director-general Tim Davie identify and sack those responsible. She emphasized that the public must be able to trust the public broadcaster, and accountability is essential to uphold its reputation for impartiality and accuracy.
The BBC has acknowledged receiving the feedback and stated it takes such matters seriously, though it declined to comment on the leaked document. Downing Street has also been involved, with the prime minister’s spokesman underscoring the importance of the BBC maintaining high editorial standards, and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has received assurances that the corporation is examining the issues.
This incident revisits the contentious events of January 6, 2021, when Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol, resulting in five deaths. Trump was acquitted of impeachment charges related to incitement, but the edited speech in the documentary could influence public perception of his role, highlighting the power of media representation in shaping historical narratives.
The fallout extends beyond this case, as the memo also highlighted alleged biases in BBC Arabic’s coverage of the Israel-Gaza war, suggesting systemic editorial problems. This controversy underscores ongoing challenges for the BBC in balancing impartiality with engaging storytelling, and it may lead to broader reforms or heightened scrutiny of its processes to restore confidence.