Donald Trump was ecstatic that Tim Davie resigned from the BBC, saying the organisation edited “my very good (perfect) speech” where he called on his supporters to protest the 2020 election result
Donald Trump and members of his administration have burst with glee after Tim Davie quit the BBC over a documentary edit of one of the Republican president’s famous speeches.
Davie left the organisation following strong criticism that a Panorama documentary had misled viewers by editing a speech by Trump ahead of the January 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol building. On that day in Washington DC, Trump encouraged his supporters to protest the certification of the 2020 Presidential Election, which he lost to Democrat Joe Biden – there is no credible evidence the election was stolen.
He said: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol, and we’re going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women.” But the Panorama edit showed him saying: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol… and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.”
READ MORE: Donald Trump slams ‘corrupt’ BBC after chief quits for ‘doctoring perfect speech’READ MORE: Tim Davie resigns as BBC’s Director General over Trump speech edit
The two parts of the speech were edited together despite being more than 50 minutes apart. The edit sparked condemnation from the White House, which branded the BBC as “100% fake news” as well as a “propaganda machine.”
Following his resignation this evening, Davie said: “Like all public organisations, the BBC is not perfect, and we must always be open, transparent and accountable. While not being the only reason, the current debate around BBC News has understandably contributed to my decision.”
Shortly after Dave announced his resignation, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt shared The Telegraph’s article with the headline “Trump goes to war with ‘fake news’ BBC” next too the article about him leaving the company and included the caption: “Shot: Chaser.”
In a post shared to TruthScial, Trump said: “The TOP people in the BBC, including TIM DAVIE, the BOSS, are all quitting/FIRED, because they were caught “doctoring” my very good (PERFECT!) speech of January 6th. Thank you to The Telegraph for exposing these Corrupt “Journalists.”
“These are very dishonest people who tried to step on the scales of a Presidential Election. On top of everything else, they are from a Foreign Country, one that many consider our Number One Ally. What a terrible thing for Democracy!”
Meanwhile, over on this side of the Atlantic, British politicians shared their views over the resignation. Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey said in a post shared to X/Twitter: “I had my disagreements with the BBC under Tim Davie but he was a decent man doing a difficult job. To see Trump’s White House claiming credit for his downfall and attacking the BBC should worry us all.”