The resignation of Tim Davie from the BBC over the editing of a documentary featuring a speech by former President Donald Trump has sparked reactions from the Trump administration. The controversy arose from the portrayal of Trump’s speech before the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, where he urged his supporters to protest the election certification. The edited content combined separate parts of the speech, leading to accusations of misleading viewers.
Following the backlash, Davie decided to step down, acknowledging the ongoing debate surrounding BBC News as a contributing factor to his resignation. The White House criticized the BBC, denouncing it as “100% fake news” and a “propaganda machine” in response to the documentary edit.
In response to Davie’s resignation, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared an article from The Telegraph titled “Trump goes to war with ‘fake news’ BBC,” highlighting the connection between Trump’s speech edit and Davie’s departure.
Former President Trump expressed gratitude to The Telegraph for exposing what he referred to as “Corrupt Journalists” at the BBC. He criticized the organization for allegedly interfering in the presidential election and emphasized the impact of foreign influence on democratic processes.
Across the Atlantic, British politicians, including Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey, weighed in on the resignation. Davey acknowledged his disagreements with the BBC under Davie’s leadership but emphasized the importance of respecting the independence of media organizations in the face of external pressures.
