The BBC is facing its most serious credibility crisis in years after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt dramatically escalated tensions by labelling the corporation '100% fake news'. The explosive comment came during a week of sustained attacks from right-wing media and prominent Conservative politicians alleging systemic bias within the broadcaster.
A Week of Mounting Pressure
The controversy ignited when The Daily Telegraph published a front-page story alleging the BBC had 'doctored' a speech by Donald Trump in an episode of Panorama to make it appear he was encouraging the Capitol Hill riot. The report cited a leaked internal memo from Michael Prescott, a former external adviser to the BBC's editorial standards committee, who had raised multiple concerns about impartiality.
The political reaction was swift. Caroline Dinenage, Tory MP and chair of the culture, media and sport committee, immediately wrote to BBC chair Samir Shah demanding details of actions taken in response. By Wednesday, senior Conservative figures were calling for resignations, with party leader Kemi Badenoch stating 'heads should roll' over what she branded 'absolutely shocking' disclosures.
Allegations Spread Across Multiple Fronts
The criticism quickly broadened beyond the Trump coverage. Prescott's memo also alleged the BBC's Arabic service chose to 'minimise Israeli suffering' in Gaza and that the broadcaster's transgender coverage had been 'censored' by staff promoting the 'Stonewall view'.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson entered the fray on Friday, calling on director-general Tim Davie to 'explain what happened or quit'. Johnson later wrote in his weekly column that he would refuse to pay his licence fee until Davie either 'comes clean' or resigns.
The right-wing media maintained relentless pressure throughout the week, with The Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail publishing multiple front-page stories and comment pieces accusing the BBC of institutional bias and double standards.
International Condemnation and Internal Defence
The situation reached a new level on Saturday when the White House officially weighed in. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned the BBC as '100% fake news' and accused British taxpayers of being 'forced to foot the bill for a leftist propaganda machine'.
Within the BBC, veteran political journalist Nick Robinson acknowledged concerns about editorial standards but expressed fear that there was a political campaign to 'destroy' the corporation. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy described the Panorama issues as 'very serious' but expressed 'complete confidence' that Shah and Davie were treating the allegations with appropriate seriousness.
As the Sunday papers continued their coverage, the BBC was reportedly expected to apologise over the edited Trump speech, suggesting the corporation recognised the severity of the situation facing its reputation and future.
