The broadcaster didn’t make a very good job of its untruth – possibly because it hasn’t had as much practice
Y
ou have to admire the chutzpah. The cheek of it. Donald Trump describing the BBC as “corrupt” while threatening to take legal action. Karoline Leavitt, The Donald’s White House mouthpiece, calling the BBC “100% fake news”. The man has never been known for his self-awareness so it’s safe to say the irony has almost certainly passed him by. If you’re being charitable, let’s just say that maybe it takes fake news to spot fake news.
The US president is a master of the lie. Makes Boris Johnson look something of an amateur. Boris always followed a lie with a giveaway smirk. He couldn’t help himself. It was an integral part of his self-destruction. As if, buried deep down in his subconscious, there was a part of him that wanted to be found out.
But The Donald does it with a straight face. Knowing that no one dare call him out. During his recent state visit to the UK, Trump told a press conference he had ended a war between Albania and Azerbaijan. A war no one – not least the Albanians and the Azerbaijanis – knew was taking place. Keir Starmer just nodded and said nothing. No point in creating a diplomatic incident. Whatever it takes to stay on the right side of Trump.
