US President Donald Trump has hit out at top BBC officials who resigned on Sunday after it was alleged the broadcaster introduced edits to Trump’s remarks in a documentary.
The US president described his speech, delivered on 6 January 2021, as “good” and “perfect” and called the action a “terrible thing for democracy”.
He said: “The TOP people at the BBC, including TIM DAVIE, THE BOSS, are all quitting/sacked because they were caught “doctoring” my very good (PERFECT!) January 6th speech.”
“Thank you to The Telegraph for exposing these corrupt ‘Journalists’. They are very dishonest people who tried to step on the scales of the presidential election,” Trump wrote.
The US president added: “To top it off, they are from a foreign country, one that many consider our number one ally. What a terrible thing for democracy!”
Top BBC bosses resign
Two top executives at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) resigned on Sunday amid an escalating impartiality and bias scandal, CNN reported.
CEO Tim Davie and executive director of news Deborah Turnes have left, CNN reported, following the leak of a memo that revealed the BBC misleadingly edited a speech by US President Donald Trump to make it appear he directly called for violence on January 6, 2021.
According to CNN, which cited the BBC, Davie announced he was stepping down as chief executive of the British broadcaster in a memo sent to staff on Sunday afternoon, saying his resignation was “entirely my decision”.
Turnes, who also resigned, said: “The ongoing Panorama controversy about President Trump has reached a stage where it is damaging the BBC – an institution I love,” in a statement on the BBC’s website, as noted by CNN.
“While mistakes have been made, I want to be absolutely clear that the recent allegations that BBC News is institutionally biased are false,” she added.
The resignations come after an internal memo seen by Britain’s The Telegraph newspaper revealed the BBC aired an “edited” speech by Trump that appeared to encourage rioters on Capitol Hill and tell them he would “fight like hell.”
In fact, Trump said in a speech in Washington DC on January 6, 2021 that “We will walk down to the Capitol and cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women,” CNN reported.
Citing a leaked internal report, CNN said the documentary made the US president say things he never actually said by splicing the footage together.
