BBC issue SECOND grovelling apology

 

The BBC faced a major backlash following inaccurate coverage of former US President Donald Trump, suggesting he called for Liz Cheney to be "shot in the face." This controversy escalated after an internal memo revealed the broadcaster's errors and sparked high-profile resignations.

 

In the lead-up to the US presidential election in November 2022, BBC World News America presenters inaccurately reported that Trump suggested a "firing squad" for Cheney. The comments were exaggerated interpretations of Trump's actual words, where he criticized Cheney as a "radical war hawk."

 

BBC North America editor Sarah Smith exacerbated the situation, describing Trump as a "wannabe tyrant" accused of promoting violence. An internal memo from the editorial guidelines and standards committee acknowledged these inaccuracies, prompting further scrutiny.

Compiled by Peter Johnston, the director of the editorial complaints unit, the memo was presented in October 2023. It concluded that the Cheney story had not been covered accurately, reflecting concerns of bias raised by independent adviser Michael Prescott.

 

Prescott's leaked dossier accused the BBC of biased reporting, claiming the broadcaster painted an unfairly negative picture of Trump. The memo addressed claims that a "Panorama" program edited a Trump speech to suggest he incited the Capitol storming.

BBC officials defended the program, arguing it aimed to understand Trump's popular appeal rather than demonize him. However, differences of opinion about editorial standards remained contentious within the corporation.

 

The fallout prompted resignations, including BBC director-general Tim Davie and BBC News chief executive Deborah Turness. BBC chairman Samir Shah acknowledged the pressures of their positions, lauding Davie's tenure despite the controversy.

The incident underscores ongoing debates over media bias and the challenge of maintaining impartiality in politically charged environments. As the BBC navigates these challenges, it faces renewed calls for transparency and adherence to rigorous journalistic standards.

 

 

Key Takeaways

• The BBC faced backlash for inaccurately reporting Trump's comments on Liz Cheney.
• An internal review revealed editorial failures, prompting leadership resignations.
• The controversy highlights ongoing debates about media bias and impartiality.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Express 2025-12-09

 

 

 

What he actually said was that Liz Cheney should know what it feels like to have “guns trained on her face.”

 

 

Looks the BBC is trying to wash the dirty laundry all in one go.

US President Donald Trump says he intends to sue the BBC for between $1 billion and $5 billion “probably sometime next week” despite the broadcaster’s apology to him over a documentary Trump’s lawyers described as defamatory.

 

Updated Nov 15, 2025
 

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/15/uk/trump-bbc-apology-sue-billion-intl