BBC accused of selectively editing Trump clip from day of Capitol attack
Guardian1 day
Report: BBC Doctored Trump's Jan. 6 Speech
Above: Donald Trump speaking outside the White House in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, 2021. Image copyright: Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Right narrative
The BBC's deceptive editing of Trump's Jan. 6 speech reveals mainstream media manipulation at its worst. By splicing together statements made an hour apart and omitting Trump's call for peaceful protest, the BBC presented Trump making statements he never said. This malicious scheme directly influenced legal cases and public perception, and should rightly result in financial punishments.
Left narrative
Trump's own prosecutors accurately described Jan. 6 as an attack by thousands of rioters, before being silenced by his administration. The editing concerns come from a former BBC adviser whose complaints have been routinely debated. Rather than getting preoccupied with these allegations, journalists should be adequately scrutinizing Trump's continued pattern attacks on media outlets and government workers who report unfavorably on his role in the Capitol attack.
Metaculus Prediction
Editor's Note
This story currently has limited reporting from left-leaning sources. We will continue to monitor all major outlets and update our coverage as additional perspectives become available.