Trump threatens $1 billion lawsuit against BBC
Donald Trump has threatened to sue BBC for at least US $1 billion, alleging that a documentary by the BBC edited his speech from January 6, 2021 in a way that was “false and defamatory.” The speech segments in question were included in an episode of the BBC’s flagship programme Panorama titled “Trump: A Second Chance?”, which aired ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
Trump’s legal team argues that the BBC spliced together two parts of his speech, separated by about 50 minutes, to make it appear as if he was inciting violence at the U.S. Capitol. The BBC has admitted the edit was an “error of judgement” that gave “the impression of a direct call for violent action.” The broadcaster’s chair, Samir Shah, publicly apologised for the mistake.
The editing controversy has triggered major upheaval at the BBC. Both director-general Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness resigned in the wake of the scandal. Meanwhile, Trump’s lawyers have given the BBC a deadline (November 14) to retract the documentary and issue a full apology or face legal action.
The case raises important questions about defamation law, cross-border media accountability and the role of public broadcasters in shaping political narratives. While Trump seeks $1 billion in damages, legal experts note that proving defamation in the U.S. especially for a public figure remains challenging.
