Donald Trump Criticizes BBC Over Altered Panorama Video
In a leaked memo, former BBC adviser Michael Prescott accused the corporation of manipulating a speech by President Donald Trump in a Panorama episode to falsely suggest he had incited the Capitol Hill riots. The controversy has sparked backlash from the White House and prompted international scrutiny of the BBC’s editorial standards.
Details of the Alleged Alteration
Prescott, who served three years on the broadcaster’s Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee before leaving in June, sent a critical report to the BBC Board last month. He stated that his earlier warnings were “dismissed or ignored.”
“The corporation doctored a speech by Donald Trump to make it appear like he had encouraged the Capitol Hill riots,”
he wrote in the memo. According to Prescott, the altered footage was aired in October 2024 and “completely misled” viewers by showing the president seemingly telling supporters to “fight like hell.” In reality, Trump had said he would walk with them “to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.”
White House Response
The White House reacted strongly to the controversy. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned the segment, calling it:
“100 per cent fake news.”
Leavitt’s statement intensified global pressure on BBC executives Tim Davie and Deborah Turness to provide an explanation for the incident.
Author’s Summary
The BBC faces mounting scrutiny after a leaked memo alleged it misrepresented President Trump’s words in a Panorama episode, prompting a fierce response from the White House.