The BBC has sparked new debate after its comedy series Have I Got News For You poked fun at Donald Trump’s sudden push to release the Epstein files. The show’s social media team shared a parody “preview” of the files an image of a completely blacked-out document implying that Trump’s call for transparency might not be as straightforward as he claims.
The timing has raised eyebrows. Just days earlier, U.S. lawmakers approved a bill requiring the public release of federal documents related to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died in custody in 2019. The issue resurfaced after thousands of pages of related documents were unsealed last week, briefly placing Trump’s past association with Epstein back in the spotlight. The White House has denied any wrongdoing, and Trump has repeatedly said he cut ties with Epstein long before the scandal erupted.
On Truth Social, Trump insisted that his administration has “nothing to hide” and urged Republicans to support the measure. But the BBC comedy account couldn’t resist responding with satire, posting a mock document and joking that it was an “exclusive preview” of the supposedly forthcoming files.
The reaction online was divided. Some viewers felt the joke fell flat or accused the BBC of predictable political bias, while others argued that the gag highlighted how unlikely it is that any released documents will be truly revealing. A few commenters suggested Trump is criticized no matter what he does on the issue, while others felt the scrutiny is well deserved.
This flare-up arrives on the heels of another dispute between Trump and the BBC. The former president previously threatened a multibillion-dollar lawsuit over a Panorama episode that misleadingly edited his January 6 speech. The BBC later apologized, acknowledging the edit could create a false impression. The backlash eventually contributed to the resignations of two senior BBC leaders: Director General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness.
With the Epstein files bill now passed, attention is shifting to what the public will actually see and whether the release brings clarity or simply fuels more political drama.
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