Tim Davie resigns as BBC’s Director-General amid row over misleading editing of Trump speech - with BBC News CEO also stepping down
The resignations follow backlash over the editing of President Trump's speech in a Panorama documentary
BBC Director-General Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness have resigned following criticism that a BBC Panorama documentary misled viewers by editing a speech by US President Donald Trump.
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In a message sent to staff on Sunday evening, Mr Davie said: “I wanted to let you know that I have decided to leave the BBC after 20 years.
“This is entirely my decision, and I remain very thankful to the chair and board for their unswerving and unanimous support throughout my entire tenure, including during recent days.
“I am working through exact timings with the board to allow for an orderly transition to a successor over the coming months.”
His resignation comes after a leaked internal memo said an edition of Panorama broadcast last October spliced together two sections of President Trump's speech to give a misleading impression of what he actually said.
The damning 19-page dossier said the Panorama episode “completely misled” viewers by showing the President telling his supporters he was going to the Capitol building with them to "fight like hell".
In reality, the President said he was going to walk with his supporters "to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard."
The programme made last year explored Mr Trump's role in January 6 riots, when more than 1,000 of his supporters stormed the Capitol.
Read more: If the BBC can’t uphold impartiality, it doesn’t deserve public funding
Mr Trump and his administration have accused British taxpayers of being "forced to foot the bill for a leftist propaganda machine".
Karoline Leavitt, the President's spokesperson, told the Telegraph: "This purposefully dishonest, selectively edited clip by the BBC is further evidence that they are total, 100 per cent fake news that should no longer be worth the time on the television screens of the great people of the United Kingdom.
"Every time I travel to the United Kingdom with President Trump and am forced to watch the BBC in our hotel rooms it ruins my day listening to their blatant propaganda and lies about the president of the United States and all that he’s doing to make America better and the world a safer place."
Donald Trump Jr also blasted the BBC as being “just as dishonest and full of s***” as some news organisations in America.
He posted online: "The FAKE NEWS 'reporters' in the UK are just as dishonest and full of s*** as the ones here in America!!!!"
Jon Sopel told LBC's Clare Foges: "Trump is not an enemy you want to have and obviously they've been as strong as they always are.
"It's not too far fetched to think that there has been some pressure from the White House on the government."
I want to thank Tim Davie for his service to public broadcasting over many years.
— Lisa Nandy MP (@lisanandy) November 9, 2025
He has led the BBC through a period of significant change and helped the organisation to grip the challenges it has faced in recent years.
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy has thanked Mr Davie for his service following his resignation.
Writing on X, she said: "I want to thank Tim Davie for his service to public broadcasting over many years.
"He has led the BBC through a period of significant change and helped the organisation to grip the challenges it has faced in recent years."
BBC chairman Samir Shah has said it “is a sad day for the BBC” following Mr Davie’s resignation.
He said: “Tim has been an outstanding director-general for the last five years. He has propelled the BBC forward with determination, single-mindedness and foresight.
“He has had the full support of me and the board throughout. However, I understand the continued pressure on him, personally and professionally, which has led him to take this decision today. The whole board respects the decision and the reasons for it.
“Tim has given 20 years of his life to the BBC. He is a devoted and inspirational leader and an absolute believer in the BBC and public service broadcasting. He has achieved a great deal. Foremost, under his tenure, the transformation of the BBC to meet the challenges in a world of unprecedented change and competition is well under way.
“Personally, I will miss his stamina, good humour and resilience and I will miss working with him. I wish him and his family the very best for the future.
“This is an important time for the corporation and the board and I will continue to work with Tim in the interim while we conduct the process to appoint his successor.”