Donald Trump Criticizes BBC Over Panorama Video Controversy
In a leaked memo, Michael Prescott accused the BBC of altering a speech by Donald Trump to falsely portray the President as encouraging the Capitol Hill riots during a Panorama broadcast.
Details from Michael Prescott's Memo
Prescott, who served as an independent external adviser to the BBC's Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee (EGSC) for three years before stepping down in June, sent an internal dossier to the BBC Board last month. His warnings to the standards watchdog were reportedly ignored or dismissed.
He revealed that the BBC "doctored" a Trump speech by presenting a "mangled" excerpt that misled viewers. The broadcast took place in October 2024 and showed Trump urging supporters to "fight like hell" while walking to the Capitol.
The president's original words were that he would walk with supporters "to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard."
Response from Trump's Press Secretary
Karoline Leavitt, Trump's press secretary, responded firmly to the controversy, dismissing the video clip as "100 per cent fake news."
Growing International Pressure
There is increasing international scrutiny on BBC executives Tim Davie and Deborah Turness to clarify the alterations made in the Panorama episode.
"The 'mangled' excerpt 'completely misled' viewers," Prescott's memo stated.
Author's summary: The BBC faces backlash after an advisor revealed they manipulated a Trump speech in a Panorama episode, prompting Trump's team to call the footage outright fake news.