BBC Under Scrutiny by US Regulator for 'Misleading' Trump Panorama Special

The BBCis under investigation by the broadcasting authority in the United States concerning its alteration of a speech delivered by the US P...

The BBCis under investigation by the broadcasting authority in the United States concerning its alteration of a speech delivered by the US PresidentDonald Trumpappeared in an episode of Panorama.

Brendan Carr, head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), sent a message to executives at the BBC yesterday.

Mr. Carr also contacted two American broadcasters, PBS and NPR, to inquire if the show was broadcast in the United States and whether it had violated FCC rules.

The company issued an apology for the edited speech, stating that it created a 'misleading perception that President Trump had directly urged violent behavior' on the day of the US event.Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.

The network stated that editing the speech was a "mistake in judgment" but declined to offer financial compensation, following threats from the U.S. president's legal team to pursue a $1 billion lawsuit unless a retraction and apology were issued.

In a June 2022 episode, Newsnight is said to have aired a version of his speech that resembled the one featured in the Panorama program.

Mr. Carr's letter reportedly explained that the two parts of the speech, which had been combined, were delivered nearly an hour apart.

He stated, "In this way, the BBC program shows President Trump saying a sentence that, in reality, he never spoke. This seems to fit the exact definition of publishing a significantly false and harmful statement."

He also stated: "As you might be aware, broadcasters under the FCC's jurisdiction have a legal responsibility to function in the public interest. These public interest obligations involve restrictions on spreading false news and airing deceptive broadcasts."

In January, Mr. Carr requested the FCC Enforcement Bureau to initiate an inquiry into PBS and NPR, stating that 'Congress is actively examining whether to cease mandating taxpayers to fund NPR and PBS content'.

In May, Mr. Trump issued an executive order intended to reduce public funding provided to broadcasters due to perceived bias in their coverage.

The head of the BBC, Samir Shah, is set to be questioned by MPs next week.

The edit came into the public spotlight following a leaked report from former editorial standards advisor Michael Prescott, which highlighted worries regarding the Panorama program "Trump: A Second Chance?".

The show aired a week prior to the US election in November 2024.

The November 24 committee meeting will also include testimony from former senior Conservative advisor Sir Robbie Gibb, who has been urged to step down from the BBC's board.

Two of the BBC's top officials, director-general Tim Davie and news head Deborah Turness, have stepped down.

Former President Trump has a record of filing lawsuits against media outlets in the United States and is currently involved in legal proceedings with the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

A representative from BBC stated, "We have not received any additional communication from President Trump's legal team at this time. Our stance continues to be unchanged."

Read more

• How is BBC chairman Samir Shah addressing President Trump's $1 billion lawsuit threat concerning the Panorama broadcast?
• Could the BBC's alleged editing issues lead a sympathetic Trump to pursue $1 billion in damages due to a modified speech depiction?
• What led to a $1 billion legal challenge from Donald Trump following the BBC's 'judgment mistake'?
• Is the BBC involved in a multi-million-dollar legal battle as Trump promises to take legal action over 'altered' Panorama video?
• Is the BBC preparing for a heated confrontation with Trump following its rejection of his $1 billion demands regarding the altered Capitol speech?