ABC accused of ‘same journalistic sin’ as BBC for deceptively editing Trump’s Jan 6 speech

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: Australia’s national broadcaster, ABC, is under fire after allegations that it deceptively edited Donald Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech, the same controversy that recently rocked Britain’s BBC. 

The claim was made on Monday by Sky News Australia host Chris Kenny, who accused the broadcaster of committing the “same journalistic sin” that led to the resignation of two senior BBC executives last week. 

The ABC’s documentary, ''Downfall: The Last Days of President Trump, aired in February 2021 on its flagship program Four Corners, a month after the Capitol riot. The episode included footage that appeared to suggest Trump had incited violence by urging supporters to march on the Capitol, but critics say key parts of his speech were deceptively edited out.

ABC accused of cutting Trump’s call for peace

On his program, Kenny highlighted that the ABC spliced together segments of Trump’s remarks to create a misleading impression of his tone and intent.

“The ABC included footage of Trump telling rally-goers: ‘We’re going to walk down, and I’ll be there with you. Because you’ll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and have to be strong,’” Kenny said. However, the broadcaster allegedly omitted Trump’s next line, “to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.”

“They have clipped up the speech to suit their narrative rather than reality, and the true meaning of what Donald Trump said,” Kenny charged, comparing the edit to the BBC’s own misleading broadcast of Trump’s January 6 remarks.

ABC defends its documentary amid growing criticism

Responding to the allegations, an ABC spokesperson defended the network’s editorial choices.

“The quote in question from President Trump was used accurately by the ABC, did not change the meaning of that section of the speech and it did not mislead the audience,” the spokesperson told Sky News. “The program was consistent with the ABC’s high standards of factual, accurate, and impartial storytelling,” they added.

But critics argue the broadcaster’s defense mirrors the BBC’s earlier justification, a stance that collapsed after The Telegraph revealed how the British network had spliced together parts of Trump’s speech delivered nearly an hour apart, creating a false impression of his intent.

BBC faces $1 billion threat from Trump amid documentary scandal

The controversy comes as Donald Trump escalates his legal battle with the BBC, threatening a $1 billion lawsuit over the network’s documentary that allegedly misrepresented his January 6 remarks.

“If the BBC does not comply … President Trump will be left with no alternative but to enforce his legal and equitable rights,” his attorney Alejandro Brito warned in a formal letter. “The BBC is on notice.” 

Speaking to Fox News host Laura Ingraham, Trump said he felt he had an “obligation” to take legal action. “Well, I guess I have to. Why not? Because they defrauded the public, and they’ve admitted it,” he told 'The Ingraham Angle.'