Liz Truss Supports Trump’s Legal Action Against BBC Editing Scandal
Former United Kingdom Prime Minister Liz Truss has voiced her support for President Donald Trump as he plans to sue the BBC over an editing controversy involving his speech on January 6, 2021. Truss accused the broadcaster of misrepresenting Trump’s comments by removing his directive to march “peacefully and patriotically” and instead incorporating the phrase “fight like hell,” which appeared later in the same speech.
According to Truss, “they’ve lied, they’ve cheated, they’ve fiddled with footage,” adding that many in Britain are backing Trump and urging him to hold the BBC accountable for what she described as a significant problem. In light of the controversy, Trump has indicated that he feels “obligated” to pursue legal action against the British broadcaster, potentially seeking $1 billion in damages.
The BBC has publicly apologized to Trump and announced that it will not rebroadcast its Panorama documentary titled “Trump: A Second Chance?” which included the edited clips. Following the backlash, both Tim Davie, the BBC Director-General, and Deborah Turness, the CEO of BBC News, resigned from their positions. A spokesperson for the BBC confirmed that the chair, Samir Shah, sent a personal letter to the White House expressing regret for the edit made to Trump’s speech.
Despite the apology from the BBC, Truss maintains that Trump should proceed with his legal suit, emphasizing that the network has not been held accountable for its actions. “I want to see him progress with this legal suit because I don’t think they’ve been held to account,” Truss stated. She further criticized the BBC for its perceived political bias against conservative figures in both the United Kingdom and the United States, calling for the organization to be “defunded.”
“The BBC used to be the paragon of journalism across the world. It was respected. It’s now become a laughingstock, and it needs to be put out of its misery,” Truss remarked, reflecting a sentiment shared by some commentators. Legal analyst from Fox News, Gregg Jarrett, echoed Truss’s view, asserting that an apology does not suffice. He stated, “This was clearly defamatory under British law. The BBC knows that, which is why the network apologized and removed the story.”
Jarrett pointed out that despite the BBC’s response, the damage done to Trump remains significant. As Trump prepares to file his lawsuit, he plans to discuss the situation with current UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer this weekend.
The controversy surrounding the BBC’s editing of Trump’s speech has sparked a broader conversation about media accountability and the role of broadcasters in shaping public perception. With legal actions looming, this situation may have lasting implications for both the BBC and the ongoing debate about media integrity and bias.
