The BBC has issued an apology to U.S. President Donald Trump for a misleading edit in a documentary that aired in October 2024. The documentary, titled “Trump: A Second Chance?”, spliced together parts of a speech from January 6, 2021, creating the impression that Trump had directly incited violence at the U.S. Capitol.
BBC Chair Samir Shah sent a personal letter to the White House expressing regret for the edit. The broadcaster has also stated that it will not rebroadcast the documentary on any of its platforms.
Trump’s legal team had threatened a $1 billion lawsuit, alleging the program caused “overwhelming financial and reputational harm” and was defamatory. While apologizing for the misleading edit, the BBC maintains that there is no basis for a defamation claim. The BBC’s lawyers have responded to Trump’s legal team, rejecting demands for compensation.
The controversy has occurred as the BBC is preparing to renegotiate its Royal Charter, which sets the framework for the corporation’s governance, before it expires in 2027.
