Donald Trump humiliates BBC after 'terrible thing for democracy'

Donald Trump has celebrated the resignation of BBC director-general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness after furore over an edited clip of the US President speaking in January 2021. Mr Davie admitted that "mistakes had been made" for which he had to "take ultimate responsibility" after it emerged that clips of Mr Trump's speech on January 6, 2021, were spliced together to make it appear that he had told supporters he would walk with them to the US Capitol to "fight like hell". The footage was aired in a Panorama programme a week before last year's US election. Ms Turness said in a statement that controversy around the edit had "reached a stage where it is causing damage to the BBC - an institution I love".

Mr Trump welcomed the resignations on his Truth Social platform, writing that "very dishonest people" had tried to "step on the scales of a presidential election". "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," the president said.

"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!"

Mr Trump's White House previously branded the BBC a "Leftist propaganda machine" and dismissed the edited clip as "100% fake news".

In a statement shared with staff, Mr Davie said his resignation was "entirely" his decision and thanked chairman Samir Shah and the board for their "unswerving and unanimous support" during his tenure.

"Like all public organisations, the BBC is not perfect, and we must always be open, transparent and accountable," he added.

"While not being the only reason, the current debate around BBC News has understandably contributed to my decision.

"Overall, the BBC is delivering well, but there have been some mistakes made and as director-general, I have to take ultimate responsibility."

The BBC has been criticised for a number of failings in recent months, including revelations in a 19-page dossier on the broadcaster's impartiality, where former editorial advisor Michael Prescott raised concerns over its skewed reporting on the Israel-Hamas war and "censorship" of transgender coverage.

The taxpayer-funded corporation, which is set to have its Royal Charter renewed in 2027, has also come under fire for livestreaming the controversial Bob Vylan Glastonbury set and airing a documentary narrated by the son of a Hamas official.