The Broadcasting Standards Authority has ruled that TVNZ breached broadcasting standards in its reporting of comments by President Trump in an item on the arrest of the man suspected of shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The Authority has upheld three complaints that the 1News item, broadcast on 13 September 2025, breached the accuracy standard by misrepresenting the President’s comment, “I couldn’t care less”, in response to a question.
The report’s introduction stated, “[W]hen the President was asked what he’d do to unite the country after this tragedy, he said, ‘I couldn’t care less’, blaming the radical left, and vowing to go after political violence”. This was accompanied by a large banner with a photo of Trump and the words, “I couldn’t care less”.
The BSA found this was inaccurate, as Trump actually said: “Well, I’ll tell you something that’s gonna get me in trouble, but I couldn’t care less”.
The BSA has ordered TVNZ to broadcast a statement on the 6pm edition of 1News summarising upheld aspects of the decision.
The Authority acknowledged TVNZ had indicated the report reflected its genuine interpretation of Trump’s comments, which is an ironically-timed rebuff to government plans to allow broadcasters to self-regulate.
TVNZ has now accepted the BSA’s decision (as if it had a choice). The BSA’s decision is here.
