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GB News collaboration with the Trump organisation- Do you think it undermines British democracy with mis information?

(253 Posts)
LemonJam Thu 01-Jan-26 13:54:51

Britain’s media regulator Ofcom is under pressure to investigate a GB News interview with Donald Trump after complaints that it contained misleading and inaccurate claims that the network failed to challenge. The rightwing channel claimed a “world exclusive sit-down interview” with the US president in November, in which Trump asserted that human-induced climate change was “a hoax” and that London had no-go areas for police and that the capital had “sharia law”.

Trump made other claims about law and order and immigration that critics said were either left unchallenged or effectively endorsed by the GB News interviewer Bev Turner, the host of its US-based nightly show.

Among those calling for an investigation is Chris Banatvala, Ofcom’s founding director of standards. He said “I’ve never seen anything comparable on a UK-established domestic broadcaster”.

Ofcom officials have spent the last few weeks examining at least three detailed complaints co-signed by tens of thousands of people, but have not yet decided whether to launch a formal investigation. The regulator is facing increasing accusations that it is reluctant to intervene over politically difficult issues of impartiality.

The complaints point to rules stating broadcasters must not “materially mislead the audience” and rules around due impartiality. A complaint from Bob Ward, from the LSE’s Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, said: “The GB News interview with President Trump was the most blatant example of a British media organisation collaborating with the Trump administration to undermine British democracy with this misinformation.”
Complaints have also been made about Trump’s claim that London has areas “where the police don’t even want to go” and that “you have sharia law where they don’t even want to obey the laws of … your country”.

There was no challenge from the comments from Turner. When Trump said people are “being stabbed in the ass or worse”, she stated: “It’s true … It’s awful, it is. And it feels much safer [in the US].”

A complaint over a lack of impartiality from the 38 Degrees campaign group pointed to Turner “praising and endorsing Trump multiple times”. During the interview, she described a speech by Trump as “one of the greatest moments at the UN” and that she “loved it, it was brilliant”.

Cossy Thu 01-Jan-26 14:01:18

I don’t watch GB News, I feel (in my opinion) it’s biased.

I do know that there are some very good journalists involved in this production, some of whom do often give differing opinions and other view points, but, for me, GB links with Reform and people like Farage and Widdecombe, are a step to far for me.

Yes, there should be an investigation into any channel alleging showing “world exclusives” with powerful (even if bonkers) world leaders such as Trump.

Most “normal” humans do seem to feel that much of what Trump spouts is either lies or highly exaggerated nonsense.

Maremia Thu 01-Jan-26 14:04:21

If there is 'nothing to see', then yes, investigate, and fact check all that was said.

M0nica Thu 01-Jan-26 14:06:48

I cannot see why it should makeany difference at all.

It is a right wing, untrustworthy organisation. Nothing will change.

Maremia Thu 01-Jan-26 14:09:11

Would watch the programme where they present the 'fact checking' on what Trump said to them.

Cossy Thu 01-Jan-26 14:11:58

Maremia

Would watch the programme where they present the 'fact checking' on what Trump said to them.

Ooh me too 😂😂

Oreo Thu 01-Jan-26 14:12:32

The thing is, that the BBC and Sky News amongst others show interviews and speeches where Trump says misleading, inaccurate and downright lies and nonsense don’t they?
Everything Trump says or at least 90% of it is clearly very odd to say the least.
So we either don’t ever show his speeches or interviews or we do and make up our own minds about them.
I don’t know who Bev Turner is but she sounds deranged if she thinks the US is safer than here.
The trouble is with what Trump often says is that there’s a grain of truth wrapped up in a load of old cobblers.
Sharia Law is real and is consulted by some in the UK, and people do get stabbed every day and there are areas where the police would rather not go.
It’s up to the regulator to decide on if there’s a case to answer.

LemonJam Thu 01-Jan-26 14:43:43

I have watched some GB news but found it too biased. I would welcome the investigation, Ofcom needs to do what it's set up to do.

Allira Thu 01-Jan-26 14:48:47

The thing is, that the BBC and Sky News amongst others show interviews and speeches where Trump says misleading, inaccurate and downright lies and nonsense don’t they?
Everything Trump says or at least 90% of it is clearly very odd to say the least.

Absolutely.
Or else the BBC edits it to make the context different from what it actually was.

Those who believe Trump will believe him anyway.
Those who don't won't.

I doubt anyone would change their minds about him on the basis of this.
How many viewers did it have?

Ofcom is just drawing more attention to it, it might have faded into obscurity without this.

Maremia Thu 01-Jan-26 14:52:34

One can only hope that all of Trump's lies will 'fade into obscurity' soon.

AGAA4 Thu 01-Jan-26 14:53:23

I don't think watch GB news and this blatant anti British interview should be investigated.

MaizieD Thu 01-Jan-26 14:55:34

Or else the BBC edits it to make the context different from what it actually was.

Are you claiming that the BBC does this regularly, Allira?

Can you give some examples?

David49 Thu 01-Jan-26 15:06:20

Exaggerated and minority views predominate not much that interests me, not that the mainstream dailies are much better a lot of scurrilous rubbish there too.

Form your own opinion on Trumps pronouncements they will probably change next week

Allira Thu 01-Jan-26 16:03:06

^The thing is, that the BBC and Sky News amongst others show interviews and speeches where Trump says misleading, inaccurate and downright lies and nonsense don’t they?
Everything Trump says or at least 90% of it is clearly very odd to say the least^.
So we either don’t ever show his speeches or interviews or we do and make up our own minds about them.

It's all unadulterated nonsense; you feel as if you've entered a parallel universe.
There's no need to edit it.

Oreo Thu 01-Jan-26 16:42:42

MaizieD

^Or else the BBC edits it to make the context different from what it actually was.^

Are you claiming that the BBC does this regularly, Allira?

Can you give some examples?

Well there was a very recent case where it happened wasn’t there?
There could be more than never come to light.

MaizieD Thu 01-Jan-26 17:09:41

Oreo

MaizieD

Or else the BBC edits it to make the context different from what it actually was.

Are you claiming that the BBC does this regularly, Allira?

Can you give some examples?

Well there was a very recent case where it happened wasn’t there?
There could be more than never come to light.

One case out if the thousands, if not millions, of hours of documentaries the BBC has shown over the years it has been in existence? But more may never have come to light?

By your reasoning any TV channel could be subject to the same accusation.

Oreo Thu 01-Jan-26 17:11:42

Yes, quite right but the BBC is always held up as some kind of moral arbiter.

keepingquiet Thu 01-Jan-26 17:19:04

I occasionally watch GB news for a few minutes just to see how bad it is.
Today when reporting on the incident in Switzerland they were already claiming that even if it was found not to be a jihad related incident it would turn out to be so as most violent acts across the world are in some way related to jihad, even if ot can't be proven.
I heard as much as I wanted to and switched over to something else.
What a load of baloney and how anyone could take it seriously is beyond me.

LemonJam Thu 01-Jan-26 17:51:49

The trouble is how many do take GB news seriously?

eazybee Thu 01-Jan-26 17:52:49

Oh, I love these 'occasionally listen to it to see how bad it is.'

Rather like 'let's run that film again before we ban it.'

Doodledog Thu 01-Jan-26 18:01:40

Sharia law cannot overrule British law. It is advisory, and can be used to adjudicate in things like divorce, but only if all parties consent to abide by it. It is no different from asking a rabbi or priest for advice or to suggest a penance after confession. The idea that we are on the cusp of having sentences of stoning or amputations is inflammatory nonsense.

Wyllow3 Thu 01-Jan-26 18:18:23

AGAA4

I don't think watch GB news and this blatant anti British interview should be investigated.

Agree.

Toadying up to Trump when he insults our way of life and lies through his teeth is disgusting. What on earth are GB news up to?

DaisyAnneReturns Fri 02-Jan-26 05:31:41

MaizieD

Oreo

MaizieD

Or else the BBC edits it to make the context different from what it actually was.

Are you claiming that the BBC does this regularly, Allira?

Can you give some examples?

Well there was a very recent case where it happened wasn’t there?
There could be more than never come to light.

One case out if the thousands, if not millions, of hours of documentaries the BBC has shown over the years it has been in existence? But more may never have come to light?

By your reasoning any TV channel could be subject to the same accusation.

I agree with Maizie. Citing “a very recent case” without explaining what happened or showing that it’s typical doesn’t really support the claim. Even if one example exists, that wouldn’t demonstrate a regular practice. Suggesting that there might be other cases that haven’t come to light is speculation, not evidence. If the claim is that the BBC does this routinely, it needs multiple clear, documented examples.

This is suspicion-based reasoning: a vague or single example is treated as proof of a general pattern, and the absence of evidence is used to suggest hidden wrongdoing. That’s risky because it makes claims impossible to test and replaces evidence with speculation.

DaisyAnneReturns Fri 02-Jan-26 05:43:26

The GB News example shows the difference between evidence-based criticism and suspicion-based reasoning. In this case, there are identifiable statements, a broadcast record, and a regulator assessing whether journalistic standards were met.

That’s very different from claiming that an organisation like the BBC routinely edits context without offering specific examples and then suggesting the real evidence is hidden. One is accountable to evidence; the other relies on suspicion

Eloethan Fri 02-Jan-26 06:37:49

Such a hoo hah about the BBC and Trump, and yet GB News can get away with airing downright lies. Hopefully, most people who tune in watch it out of interest rather than commitment. But there must be some people who believe all the lies.