Feedback by Karoline Leavitt comply with allegations that Panorama documentary misled viewers with its modifying of a Trump speech

Donald Trump’s press secretary has described the BBC as “100% pretend information” and a “propaganda machine” in an outspoken interview that comes after allegations of bias on the broadcaster.

Karoline Leavitt, a senior White Home official within the Trump administration, mentioned watching BBC bulletins whereas on journeys to the UK “ruins” her day, saying taxpayers had been being “compelled to foot the invoice for a leftist propaganda machine”.

Leavitt’s feedback got here after MPs mentioned the company had “critical inquiries to reply” about the way in which a speech by the US president was edited by a BBC Panorama documentary. A doc leaked to the Telegraph urged that an episode of the present affairs programme “utterly misled” viewers by splicing two elements of the speech collectively.

The programme confirmed Trump saying he would stroll along with his supporters to the Capitol earlier than the riots on 6 January 2021, urging them to “combat like hell”. Nonetheless, it omitted a piece of the speech the place Trump urged the group “to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard”.

It was reported late on Saturday that the BBC was anticipated to apologise for the way in which the speech was edited, with a BBC spokesperson saying the organisation’s chair would offer a “full response to the Tradition, Media and Sport Committee on Monday”. In an interview with the Telegraph, Leavitt mentioned: “This purposefully dishonest, selectively edited clip by the BBC is additional proof that they’re complete, 100% pretend information that ought to now not be definitely worth the time on the tv screens of the good folks of the UK.

“Each time I journey to the UK with President Trump and am compelled to look at the BBC in our lodge rooms, it ruins my day listening to their blatant propaganda and lies concerning the president of america and all that he’s doing to make America higher and the world a safer place.”

The newspaper mentioned its reporting was based mostly on a memo written by Michael Prescott, a former adviser to the BBC’s editorial tips and requirements committee. Prescott left his position earlier this yr and has not commented on the doc, understood to have been leaked by a whistleblower.

It revealed an extract that learn: “It was utterly deceptive to edit the clip in the way in which Panorama aired it. The truth that he didn’t explicitly exhort supporters to go down and combat at Capitol Hill was one of many causes there have been no federal prices for incitement to riot.”

The memo reportedly added that Prescott, a communications marketing consultant and former political journalist, had raised issues about the way in which BBC Arabic lined the conflict in Gaza.

The Telegraph mentioned Prescott alleged there have been “systemic issues”, which had not been addressed by senior administration, claiming there have been “stark variations” between the protection of the conflict on BBC Arabic and on the principle BBC web site. One subject Prescott is alleged to have highlighted is the repeated use of commentators who had been antisemitic or pro-Hamas.

The 19-page file can also be reported to have criticised the BBC’s protection of transgender points, saying the broadcaster had been “captured by a small group of [staff] selling the Stonewall view” of gender identification points and that its LGBT desk would “decline to cowl any tales elevating troublesome questions”.

It’s mentioned to have alleged that tales elevating complicated questions on trans points had been suppressed, with a “fixed drip-feed of one-sided tales celebrating the trans expertise with out enough steadiness or objectivity”. In response, the BBC mentioned: “Whereas we don’t touch upon leaked paperwork, when the BBC receives suggestions it takes it severely and considers it fastidiously.

“Michael Prescott is a former adviser to a board committee the place differing views and opinions of our protection are routinely mentioned and debated.”