BBC Accused of Left-Wing Bias in Trump Lecturer Choice
The longstanding dispute between the BBC and Donald Trump has intensified dramatically following revelations that the broadcaster selected a vehement critic of the former US President to deliver its prestigious annual Reith Lectures. Dutch author and historian Rutger Bregman used the high-profile platform to draw direct comparisons between Trump's America and the ascent of fascism during the 1930s.
According to audience members present at the recordings, Bregman described Trump, Nigel Farage, and technology billionaires including Elon Musk as "a bit fashy" during his lecture titled "A Time Of Monsters," scheduled for broadcast next week. This provocative characterisation has ignited fresh accusations about the BBC's political impartiality.
White House Condemns "Rabid Anti-Trump" Appointment
The White House responded forcefully to the news, with communications director Steven Cheung branding Bregman "a rabid anti-Trump individual" in an official statement. This condemnation follows President Trump's recent announcement aboard Air Force One that he intends to sue the BBC for between $1 billion and $5 billion over a Panorama episode that allegedly misrepresented his January 6, 2021 Capitol Hill speech through selective editing.
The corporation has acknowledged the editing errors in both the Panorama episode and a separate Newsnight broadcast from 2022, issuing an apology to Mr Trump while refusing to pay damages. The controversy has already precipitated significant leadership changes within the BBC, resulting in the resignations of director-general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Furness.
Political Figures Join Criticism
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage declared that "the BBC is diseased and needs radical surgery at every level," including abolition of the television licence fee. Conservative culture spokesman Nigel Huddleston reinforced allegations of institutional bias, stating: "This is yet more evidence of the Left-wing bias of the BBC. They just can't help themselves."
The escalating situation has reached the highest levels of government, with Sir Keir Starmer scheduled to discuss the matter directly with President Trump during a call this weekend.
Bregman's lecture series, collectively titled "Moral Revolution," was recorded last month across multiple locations including London, Liverpool, Edinburgh, and the United States. The programmes are set to air on Radio 4 beginning November 25, though some senior BBC figures are reportedly considering whether to edit references to Trump before broadcast to avoid further White House confrontation.
An audience member present at the London recording of "A Time Of Monsters" revealed that "it was made very clear that Trump was one of the monsters of the title" and that Bregman received applause when characterising contemporary politics as approaching neo-fascism.
The Dutch author, who follows in the footsteps of distinguished previous Reith lecturers including philosopher Bertrand Russell and physicist Stephen Hawking, expanded on his themes during an exclusive post-lecture dinner hosted by former director-general Tim Davie. Under a portrait of Lord Reith, the BBC's founding director-general, guests including Radio 4 executive Eleanor Garland and historian David Olusoga dined on venison carpaccio and herb-crusted lamb rump while Bregman advocated for organising "a resistance movement against populism."
In defence of their selection, a BBC source emphasised that "the Reith Lectures have a long tradition of showcasing leading thinkers from across the political spectrum" and that the views expressed belong to the speaker rather than the corporation. The broadcaster has declined to comment beyond confirming the broadcast schedule for Bregman's lectures.
