US President Donald Trump has declared that he will initiate legal proceedings against the BBC concerning an edited version of his speech aired by Panorama, following the corporation's admission that the edit could mislead viewers. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump stated, We'll sue them for anywhere between $1bn to $5bn, probably sometime next week. The BBC had earlier acknowledged an unintentional mistake in their editing, which led to a perceived direct call for violence, and apologized, yet they refused to provide any financial compensation.
The controversy centers around the BBC's editing of Trump's January 6, 2021 speech in a documentary aired in October 2024. During that address, Trump urged supporters to support their congressional leaders, but the edit made it appear as if he incited violence. Following the backlash, the heads of BBC News and its director general resigned.
Trump's legal team previously warned the BBC of a $1 billion lawsuit unless a public retraction and apology were issued. In a statement, the BBC has made it clear that they believe there is no basis for a defamation claim and defended their editing as a necessary means to condense a lengthy speech. As of now, legal action has not yet commenced, with a spokesperson stating that they have not heard back from Trump's lawyers.
The situation underscores the complex relationship between politics and media, and the implications of public funding when embroiled in legal disputes of this nature.
