Ofcom urged to investigate GB News Trump interview over inaccuracy claims | GB News
The UK’s media regulator Ofcom is under pressure to investigate GB News’ interview with Donald Trump following complaints that it contained misleading and false claims that the channel has failed to challenge.
The right-wing channel made a claim “exclusive sit down interview for the world” In a meeting with the US president in November, Trump claimed that human-caused climate change was “a hoax”, that there were areas of London where police could not enter, and that there was “sharia law” in the capital.
Trump also made other claims about law, order and immigration that critics say were either left unchallenged or were actually confirmed by GB News reporter Bev Turner, the host of the US-based late-night show.
Among those calling for an investigation is Ofcom’s founding standards director, Chris Banatvala. He told the Guardian he had “never seen anything like this from a UK-based local broadcaster”.
Ofcom officials have spent the last few weeks reviewing at least three detailed complaints signed by tens of thousands of people but have not yet decided whether to launch a formal investigation. The regulator faces growing accusations that it is unwilling to intervene on politically difficult impartiality issues.
The complaints point to rules stating that broadcasters must not “materially mislead the audience” and rules regarding required impartiality.
A. Complaint from Bob Wardfrom LSE’s Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment focused on Trump’s claims about human-caused climate change. Trump said: “The whole thing is a scam… but your country is one of the worst.”
Trump also made controversial claims about red tape and taxes related to drilling in the North Sea, stating that wind energy is “the most expensive energy you can buy.” This is against latest research.
Ward said: “The GB News interview with President Trump was the most blatant example of a British media outlet collaborating with the Trump administration to undermine British democracy with this misinformation.”
Complaints were also made about Trump’s claims that “there are areas in London where the police do not even want to go” and that “the police do not even want to obey the laws of your country when there is sharia law.”
There were no objections to Turner’s comments. When Trump said people were getting “stabbed in the ass or worse,” he stated: “It’s true… It’s scary, it is. And it feels a lot safer.” [in the US].”
The 38 Degrees campaign group’s complaint about a lack of impartiality pointed out that Turner had “repeatedly praised and supported Trump”. During the interview, he called Trump’s speech “one of the best moments at the UN” and said he “liked it, it was great.”
GB News declined to comment on the complaints.
GB News is emerging as a regular platform for figures from the Trump administration to air selected talking points. Trump’s White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, introduced the publisher many times.
Banatvala, Ofcom’s founding director of standards, said the regulator was under “intense pressure to take action”.
He said: “This case presents a real challenge to the regulator, not least because of the significant leeway it has already given GB News and because it involves an interview with a sitting US president.
“While this style of interviewing, without any challenge and with the presenter effectively feeding the lines, is the norm for Newsmax and Fox News, I have not seen anything like it on a UK-based local broadcaster. There is no doubt that this program warrants due impartiality and investigation for possible breaches of misleading rules.”
“If Ofcom chooses not to investigate, this will be an effective signal that the regulator has abandoned impartiality and broadcasters no longer need to comply with these rules.”
A spokesman for Ofcom said: “We consider complaints that contravene our rules but have not yet decided whether to investigate.”
