US President Donald Trump has threatened the BBC with a $1 billion lawsuit after the British broadcaster apologised for editing a speech in a Panorama documentary that made it appear he encouraged “violent action” before the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack.
According to a letter from Trump’s legal team, the BBC must retract the documentary, issue a full apology, and compensate Trump for “financial and reputational harm” by Friday, or face legal action. “The BBC is on notice. PLEASE GOVERN YOURSELF ACCORDINGLY,” the letter stated.
The edited footage suggested Trump urged supporters to march on the Capitol, giving a misleading impression of his words outside the White House. The letter described the edit as “false, defamatory, malicious, disparaging, and inflammatory” and noted it had been widely circulated online, reaching millions globally.
The BBC’s director general Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness resigned Sunday following the backlash. In a letter to MPs, BBC chairman Samir Shah admitted the edit “did give the impression of a direct call for violent action” and apologised, pledging reforms to the broadcaster’s oversight.
Trump hailed the resignations, calling BBC journalists “corrupt” and “dishonest,” while his press secretary labelled the corporation “100 per cent fake news.”
The BBC, funded by a licence fee in the UK, has faced previous accusations of bias, including controversies over documentaries on Gaza and a Glastonbury livestream. Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office emphasised the broadcaster’s critical role in combating misinformation and stressed the need for swift corrections when errors occur.
A government review of the BBC charter, which governs its funding and governance, is underway ahead of the current charter’s expiry in 2027.
