Trump sues BBC over edited speech
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to sue the BBC for an amount between $1 billion and $5 billion, claiming the broadcaster misrepresented his January 6, 2021 speech by editing it in a way that made it appear as though he incited violence.
Trump made the threat while speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, saying the BBC “changed the words coming out of my mouth” and insisting legal action is necessary. He described the edit as so serious that he has a duty to sue: “I think I have to do it… They cheated.”
The controversy centers on a Panorama documentary titled “Trump: A Second Chance?” aired before the 2024 U.S. election. In that programme, the BBC reportedly spliced together three excerpts from Trump’s speech that were nearly an hour apart in a way that omitted parts where he urged his supporters to protest peacefully. The BBC has since acknowledged the mistake, calling it an “error of judgment” and issued a personal apology to Trump’s office.
Despite the apology, the BBC flatly rejected Trump’s demand for compensation. In a statement, the broadcaster said it “strongly disagree[s] there is a basis for a defamation claim.” It also confirmed the documentary will not be aired again in its current form.
Legal experts have expressed skepticism about Trump’s chances. Some note that in the U.K., defamation payouts are rarely very large, and that the window for bringing such a case under British law may already have closed.
Trump, for his part, said he would likely take action “sometime next week,” and could also raise the issue directly with U.K. political leaders.
