Ofcom Looks Into GB News Following Donald Trump Interview
Ofcom, the UK regulator, has announced an investigation into GB News regarding a controversial interview with former President Donald Trump.
The decision marks a shift in Ofcom’s stance; previously, it declined to probe a November 2022 interview in which Trump inaccurately described human-induced climate change as “a hoax” and claimed London had areas where police could not operate. Concerned about balancing perspectives, Ofcom stated it would not investigate at that time.
However, the regulator has now indicated that it will examine whether the interview, which aired 12 hours later on a different show, breached guidelines on due impartiality and material misleadingness. This segment aired on the Dawn Neesom show and included different participants and discussions, prompting Ofcom’s reconsideration.
“This programme featured an interview by GB News presenter, Bev Turner, with US President Donald Trump. We are investigating whether it breached our rules on due impartiality and material misleadingness,” an Ofcom spokeswoman stated today.
In response, a GB News spokesperson expressed surprise and concern over the investigation, describing Ofcom’s reversal as a “U-turn” influenced by negative commentary regarding its previous decision. The network questioned the basis for revisiting the issue, noting that Ofcom had previously determined the original broadcast complied with Broadcasting Code requirements.
Earlier this year, Ofcom had chosen not to investigate the initial interview between Turner and Trump. Turner has recently emerged as a preferred journalist among Trump’s circle and currently hosts *The Late Show Live* on GB News from the United States.
Ofcom has closely monitored GB News, having conducted multiple inquiries and imposed a £100,000 ($136,000) fine over its *People’s Forum: The Prime Minister* live show featuring former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak just ahead of the 2024 general election. The regulator had previously put the channel “on notice” for multiple breaches involving politicians as news presenters. However, a legal dispute between Ofcom and GB News led to a change in guidance regarding this issue, with relations appearing to improve slightly in recent months.
“GB News stands firmly by its journalism and editorial standards,” the statement concluded, emphasizing its commitment to maintaining professional integrity in the face of regulatory scrutiny.
