BBC Bosses Resign Over Trump Speech Edit

The BBC is facing a major shake-up after its top executive and head of news resigned following allegations that the broadcaster deceptively edited a speech by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

The controversy centres on a documentary that aired a week before the 2024 U.S. election. In his speech, Trump said at one point, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol, and we’re going to cheer our brave senators and congressmen and women.” Fifty minutes later, he added, “I’ll be with you. And we fight. Fight like hell.” The BBC spliced these quotes together to read, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol […] and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell,” making it appear Trump was urging violence against lawmakers. 

Tim Davie, BBC Director-General since 2020, and Deborah Turness, CEO of BBC News, stepped down on Sunday. Trump welcomed the departures, calling the executives “very dishonest people” and claiming the BBC tried to influence a U.S. election.

Despite the resignations, the BBC remains widely respected abroad and is considered one of the most trusted news brands in the UK. Both leaders defended the BBC. Davie said the corporation has been “seen as the gold standard around the world”, and Turness denied claims of institutional bias, calling them “wrong”.