GB News star Martin Daubney has clashed with a guest in a fiery exchange over Donald Trump’s legal threat to the BBC.
The row erupted after broadcaster Martin Abrahams accused the US President of “interfering” with the British broadcaster amid weeks of controversy.
Mr Abrahams insisted the BBC should “tell Donald Trump to go to hell” after he confirmed a letter had been sent threatening legal action.
The BBC is in a crisis after a Panorama documentary was accused of misleading viewers by editing together two separate parts of a speech made by the US President.
Mr Abrahams insisted the BBC should ‘tell Donald Trump to go to hell’
|
GB NEWS
The edits made it appear as though President Trump had explicitly encouraged the January 2021 Capitol Hill riot, a leaked memo released by The Telegraph has revealed.
The BBC’s director-general Tim Davie and chief executive Deborah Turness both resigned over the weekend following mounting criticism of the corporation’s coverage.
Speaking on GB News, host Martin said: “They think they’re immune. They think they can criticise anybody.
“They want impunity. They’ve been caught with their pants down, and in the president’s eyes, they’re the same as any other fake news organisation.”
Mr Abrahams responded by saying: “No, no, Martin, the difference is that the BBC is funded by a licence fee.
“Almost every other broadcaster is funded either by advertising revenue or by a billionaire’s money and that basically leads those broadcasters to pursue particular agendas. The BBC has to have transparency and accountability.
Martin Daubney was left furious at the comments
|
GB NEWS
“Listen, I’m not coming on here to defend the BBC, because I’ve been absolutely shocked and appalled by the actions of its news output over the years, particularly in relation to what’s been happening in Gaza and Israel.
“I think their coverage of the genocide in Gaza has been an absolute disgrace. But what I will object to is a foreign president like Donald Trump trying to interfere with our state broadcaster. That cannot be allowed to happen, and the BBC should tell Donald Trump to go to hell.”
Martin hit back: “Well, if they do that, it’ll cost them even more money. That would be an even more idiotic thing to do than what they’ve already done.
“They’re up to their necks in this, Martin. The thing to do now is not to fight anymore, they’ll get dragged down into the quagmire.
“Here’s the point: if they are a state broadcaster, if they’re bankrolled by you, me and everyone else under pain of prison for refusing to pay the licence fee, then they should act with more responsibility.
“They must respect the fact that they’re not immune to prosecution, the same as any media organisation on the planet. The problem isn’t Donald Trump. The problem is the BBC attacking Donald Trump.”
The BBC has so far refused to comment in detail on the allegations raised in the leaked memo, or on the full contents of the president’s legal letter.
UK political leaders from across the spectrum have expressed hope that the high-profile resignations will mark a turning point for the corporation.