A leaked internal BBC memo has accused the corporation’s flagship Panorama programme of “completely misleading” viewers by editing footage of a Donald Trump speech from January 6, 2021, in a way that made it appear as though the former US president encouraged the Capitol riot.
According to reports by The Telegraph, the 19-page document alleges that Panorama “mangled” the original footage, splicing together separate sections of Mr Trump’s address to suggest he had urged his supporters to “fight like hell” and march on the Capitol.
In reality, the memo states, the then-president had called on his supporters to “peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard” — a marked difference from the version broadcast by the BBC shortly before the 2024 US presidential election.
The dossier reportedly claims that Panorama made Mr Trump “say things [he] never actually said”, amounting to what it described as deliberate manipulation.
The revelation has prompted fierce criticism from political figures on both sides of the Atlantic. Donald Trump Jr reacted angrily to the leaked memo, posting online: “The FAKE NEWS ‘reporters’ in the UK are just as dishonest and full of s— as the ones here in America!!!!”
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson branded the alleged editing a “total disgrace”. Writing on X, he said: “The BBC has doctored footage of Trump to make it look as though he incited a riot — when he in fact said no such thing. We have Britain’s national broadcaster using a flagship programme to tell palpable untruths about Britain’s closest ally.”
Nigel Huddleston, the shadow culture secretary, described the allegations as “extremely concerning revelations that could seriously undermine the brand and reputation of the BBC.” He added: “The BBC licence fee is justified on the basis of impartiality and trust. There can be no justification for this kind of deliberate manipulation and the spreading of misinformation. This is not the first time that evidence of bias at the BBC has emerged, but it is one of the most stark and alarming examples to date. Licence-fee payers deserve an immediate explanation and apology from the BBC, and a thorough investigation into this scandal must take place.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also weighed in, remarking: “It’s no wonder that fewer people are paying the BBC licence fee every single year.”
Former BBC radio presenter Liz Kershaw said the allegations came as “no surprise”, writing on X: “I presented news and current affairs programmes on the BBC on four stations from 1993 to 2011. The biased groupthink among its journalists was outrageous and had to be fought and rebalanced every day.”
According to The Telegraph, further excerpts from the memo are expected to be published in the coming days. These reportedly include accusations that the BBC’s Arabic service displayed bias in its coverage of the Gaza conflict, and claims of “effective censorship” in reporting on transgender issues.
The controversy has sparked calls for a full inquiry into how the Panorama episode was approved for broadcast. As pressure mounts, the BBC has yet to issue a detailed public response to the allegations.
