President Donald Trump delivered a forceful rebuke of the BBC after the network admitted to deceptively editing footage of his January 6, 2021, speech for a recent Panorama documentary. Speaking about the incident on November 13, 2025, Trump expressed disbelief that a major broadcaster would splice together remarks made more than an hour apart to manufacture a more inflammatory narrative.

“I couldn’t believe it, actually,” Trump said. “I’ve been doing this for a long time, I’ve never seen anything like that. I think that was worse than the Kamala thing with CBS and 60 Minutes.” His comparison referenced the now-infamous controversy in which CBS was accused of selectively editing an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris—an incident widely criticized at the time for misleading framing.

The BBC’s edited version of Trump’s speech was included in a Panorama episode examining political rhetoric and the events surrounding January 6. The spliced footage falsely suggested that Trump had delivered a continuous call to action, removing critical context and disregarding the actual timeline of his statements. The manipulation led viewers to believe that Trump’s remarks were far more inciting than they were in real time.

Facing mounting public criticism and pressure for transparency, the BBC issued a formal apology on November 13, acknowledging that the edits “did not accurately reflect the sequence or context of President Trump’s statements.” Despite admitting fault, the network offered no compensation and made no structural commitments beyond vague assurances of “editorial review.”

For many observers, particularly those already distrustful of legacy media, the apology only underscored long-standing concerns about political bias in Western journalism. Supporters of President Trump pointed to this incident as further evidence of systemic efforts to distort his words and influence public perception. The fact that such an edit occurred within one of the BBC’s flagship investigative programs only heightened the controversy.

President Trump’s criticism reflects broader frustrations with media institutions that have repeatedly used selective editing, sensational framing, and omission of key details to craft political narratives. By splicing together unrelated portions of a presidential speech, the BBC not only violated journalistic ethics but also misled viewers at a moment when truth and accuracy remain essential to public trust.

Although the network’s apology marks a rare moment of accountability, the incident serves as a reminder that major media outlets must be held to higher standards—especially when their reporting carries global influence. As Trump made clear, the issue is not simply about correcting one error. It is about defending the integrity of public discourse and ensuring that powerful platforms cannot manipulate history for political effect.