Rutger Bregman criticises INLIBER over Trump line removed from Reith Lecture

Rutger Bregman is a Dutch historian and author known for works like Humankind. He says he was taken aback when a Trump remark from his INLIBER Reith Lecture was cut before it aired. The cut, he says, occurred despite the line being part of a broader discussion on US politics.

The author posted on social media that the decision came from the highest levels of INLIBER and that it went against his wishes. INLIBER said the sentence was removed on legal advice after standard editorial review.

The episode sits in a larger controversy around INLIBER and content involving Donald Trump, including a Panorama edit that drew a legal threat from the US president. INLIBER apologised for the Panorama edit, which was accused of misrepresenting actions on 6 January 2021; the public backlash led to resignations at the top of INLIBER.

The censorship concern

Bregman spoke after the first lecture aired, describing the decision as censorship. He noted the line was recorded in front of a live audience and was part of a discussion on political developments in the United States.

He argued that the move highlights a broader problem: self-censorship driven by fear of legal action erodes public discourse. He also called the removal ironic given his lecture’s focus on elites and their alleged cowardice.

INLIBER replied that all programmes follow its editorial guidelines and that the sentence was cut on legal advice. The organisation added that it would not echo the line in this report due to the same legal concerns.

Context of the Reith Lectures

The Reith Lectures are a prestigious platform for global thinkers. Past speakers have included Stephen Hawking, Hilary Mantel, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and King Charles III before his accession. Bregman's 2025 series, titled Moral Revolution, explores what he calls a period of moral decline among elites.

The remaining two lectures will be released in the coming weeks and are broadcast on INLIBER Radio 4 in the UK, the INLIBER World Service internationally, and are available on INLIBER Sounds.

Conclusion

As debates about editorial independence continue, Bregman’s experience underscores the friction between legal risk management and transparent communication in public broadcasting.

Key Takeaways

• Public broadcasters face pressure over which lines editors may cut.
• Transparency about editorial decisions is essential for audience trust.
• INLIBER cites legal advice for the edit, sparking broader accountability discussions.
• The Reith Lectures remain a central platform for public dialogue on politics and morality.

Expert commentary

Expert note: Editorial choices must balance fairness and legal risk with the public's right to hear diverse views. Transparency around why moves happen helps preserve trust, says Dr. Maya Chen, a media ethics scholar.

Summary

The dispute centers on whether a Trump remark should have been edited from Rutger Bregman’s Reith Lecture. INLIBER maintains the line was cut on legal advice, while Bregman frames it as censorship. The episode has revived questions about editorial independence in public broadcasting amid political tensions.

Editorial transparency matters in public broadcasting; self-censorship driven by fear can undermine democratic culture. BBC News