Trump-BBC live: President threatens to sue corporation over Panorama edit

Reform leader Nigel Farage said he spoke to Donald Trump on Friday and added: “He said to me: ‘Is this how you treat your best ally?’

“Pretty strong comment.”

Donald Trump threatened to take legal action against the BBC in a letter, BBC News reported.

The BBC chief previously told BBC News they had received communications from President Trump, adding: “We are now considering how to respond to him.”

Asked whether Mr Trump had said he would sue the BBC, Mr Shah said: “I don’t know about that yet, but he is a litigious guy, so we have to be prepared for all the consequences.”

Trump has previously filed defamation lawsuits against media companies, especially the New York Times.

The Prime Minister rejected claims the BBC was “institutionally biased”.

It is understood No 10 was told yesterday that a number of senior resignations were imminent at the broadcaster.

Responding to allegations from Downing Street, US President Donald Trump and critics of the BBC, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “Is the BBC corrupt?: No.

“The BBC has a vital role to play in an age of disinformation, where the clear case for providing a robust, impartial British news service is stronger than ever.

“I think I have already addressed some of the comments made in the last 24 hours, but we are of the view that it is important for the BBC to act quickly to maintain trust and to correct errors quickly when they occur.”

The spokesman was also asked whether Sir Keir Starmer believed the BBC was institutionally biased, to which he replied: “No, but it is important that the BBC takes action to maintain trust and correct errors quickly when they occur, because as I have said, for any public service broadcaster, accountability is vital to maintaining trust.”

The BBC president stated that the US president contacted the company and said that he did not know whether Donald Trump would sue the BBC.

Samir Shah told BBC News they were “thinking about how to respond” to communication from President Trump.

Asked whether Mr Trump had said he would sue the BBC, Mr Shah said: “I don’t know about that yet, but he is a litigious guy, so we have to be prepared for all the consequences.”

Trump has previously filed defamation lawsuits against media companies, especially the New York Times.

BBC chief Samir Shah defended the broadcaster, saying the claim that the leaked memo “revealed” the problems was “absolutely untrue”.

The memo, written by Michael Prescott, a former external adviser to the BBC’s broadcasting standards committee, raised concerns of institutional bias.

But Mr Shah denied the BBC was trying to “bury” these issues.

In a letter to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, he said: “There is another view gaining currency in the media that the BBC is doing nothing to tackle these problems.

“That’s absolutely not true either.”

David Maddox, political editor of The Independent, reports:

Dr Samir Shah’s apology letter to the House of Commons’ culture, media and sport select committee is unlikely to satisfy members.

Independent He understands that there were a number of concerns that Tim Davies did not offer to come forward and address before his resignation as chief executive.

Now the committee will meet in private tomorrow to hear evidence from Michael Prescott, the author of the memo that plunged the BBC into its latest scandal.

Committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage told The Independent the committee would “discuss next steps”.

However, this is Dr. It will include requests for Shah and other senior figures from the Company to come forward and brief Mr Davie on what was going on, including claims that he was the victim of an internal coup.

In a letter to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Monday, BBC chief Samir Shah said the company had received hundreds of complaints since Michael Prescott’s memo was leaked.

The report, published by The Telegraph, raised concerns about bias in the Panorama section where Donald Trump’s speech was included.

He said: “Since Mr Prescott’s note was published, this issue has led to more than 500 complaints. These are now being dealt with as normal.”

BBC chief Samir Shah said the company wanted to “apologize for this error of judgment” in editing Donald Trump’s speech for Panorama.

Responding to a letter from the Committee for Culture, Media and Sport (CMS), Mr Shah said more than 500 complaints had been received since the note was published, adding: “We accept that the way the speech was edited gave the impression of a direct call for violent action.”