BBC apologies

In November 2025, the BBC issued a formal apology to President Donald Trump regarding an editing error in a Panorama documentary about the January 6 Capitol riots. The apology came in the form of a letter from BBC Chair Samir Shah to the White House, where the broadcaster acknowledged that the edited footage unintentionally suggested that Trump incited violence during his speech on that day.

The controversy arose from the way the BBC spliced parts of Trump’s speech, which led to claims of misleading representation. The network recognized that this editing decision amounted to an "error of judgement," as it distorted the context of his remarks. The BBC emphasized that it did not intend to imply that Trump had called for violence in a continuous manner, as the editing suggested.

In the wake of the incident, Trump had threatened to file a $1 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC, asserting that the misleading edit harmed his reputation. However, the BBC rejected these defamation claims, stating that there was no legal basis for such an action. Furthermore, it announced that the controversial programme would not be rebroadcast.

This incident highlights the ongoing tensions and sensitivities surrounding media representations of political figures, particularly those as polarizing as Trump. The BBC's swift acknowledgment of the error and the subsequent apology illustrate the challenges media organizations face in maintaining accuracy and integrity in their reporting, especially in politically charged contexts.