Former US President Donald Trump has unleashed a scathing new verbal assault on the British Broadcasting Corporation, branding it as 'corrupt' and 'crooked' in a fiery speech delivered at a Republican fundraising event. The outburst centres on a heavily scrutinised edit from a Panorama episode broadcast in 2024, which Trump claims deliberately misrepresented his words.
Trump's Allegations of Media Manipulation
Addressing attendees at the National Republican Congressional Committee's annual fundraising dinner held at Union Station in Washington D.C. on March 25, 2026, Trump vehemently denied ever uttering the phrases attributed to him. "They had me saying things that I never said, that were terrible," Trump declared. "They put words in my mouth. Sentences and paragraphs so horrible."
The Controversial Panorama Episode
The focal point of Trump's ire is a specific Panorama episode that appeared to show him encouraging supporters to storm the United States Capitol building on January 6, 2021. The broadcast featured an edited clip from Trump's speech that day, splicing together segments to create the impression he said: "We're going to walk down to the Capitol... and I'll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell."
Critically, the edit omitted the portion where Trump explicitly urged his followers to march "peacefully," a omission that has sparked significant controversy and allegations of journalistic malpractice.
Resignations and Legal Battles
The fallout from the broadcast was substantial, leading to the resignation of BBC director general Tim Davie and BBC News chief Deborah Turness. At his departure, Davie acknowledged that "some mistakes had been made" and accepted "ultimate responsibility" for the editorial decision.
Trump referenced these resignations in his speech, stating: "They admitted they were guilty. That's how crooked they are." He also drew parallels to previous legal victories against media organisations, mentioning that "CBS had to pay me $38 million for what they said."
Ongoing Defamation Lawsuit
The former president has filed a substantial $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC, with the trial scheduled to commence on February 15 of the following year. The BBC has moved to have the case dismissed, arguing that Trump failed to state successful claims for defamation and alleging violations of Florida's unfair trade practices law.
However, court documents from the US District Court Southern District of Florida reveal that Judge Roy K. Altman has rejected the broadcaster's attempts to dismiss the libel case, firmly setting the trial date and allowing the legal proceedings to advance.
Broader Context of 'Fake News' Allegations
Trump's attack forms part of his longstanding campaign against what he frequently labels as 'fake news.' In his speech, he told the audience: "If you bring lawsuits against these guys, they are so corrupt that they will pay it," suggesting that legal action is an effective tool against media organisations he perceives as hostile.
The ongoing confrontation highlights the tense relationship between the former president and major news outlets, with the BBC becoming the latest target in a series of disputes that have characterised Trump's political career and post-presidential activities.
