Donald Trump’s press secretary has accused the BBC of being a “leftist propaganda machine” and “100 per cent fake news” following allegations of selective editing in a Panorama episode about the Capitol riots. The programme aired a clip of Trump urging supporters to “fight like hell” before the 6 January 2021 attack but omitted his call for them to “peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard”.
Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s press secretary, told the Telegraph that the editing was “purposefully dishonest” and evidence of the BBC’s bias. She claimed that watching the broadcaster during trips to the UK “ruins my day” due to what she described as “blatant propaganda and lies” about the former president.
The controversy stems from a leaked memo by Michael Prescott, a former adviser to the BBC’s editorial guidelines committee, which stated that the edit was “completely misleading”. Prescott, who left his role earlier this year, has not commented publicly on the leak. The memo noted that Trump’s omission of an explicit call to storm the Capitol was a reason no federal incitement charges were brought.
The BBC responded by saying it does not comment on leaked documents but takes feedback seriously. The Panorama episode aired amid ongoing scrutiny of the broadcaster’s impartiality. Over 2,000 people stormed the Capitol on 6 January 2021, resulting in five deaths, injuries to 174 police officers, and an estimated $2.7 million in damage.
