Former US President Donald Trump has initiated a major defamation lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation, seeking damages of at least $5 billion (£3.7 billion). The legal action, filed in a Florida court, centres on the broadcaster's editing of his speech on 6 January 2021, the day his supporters stormed the US Capitol.
The Core of the Allegations
The lawsuit alleges that the BBC's flagship Panorama programme, titled Trump: A Second Chance?, portrayed him in a "false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious" manner. The complaint specifically focuses on how clips from his speech were edited. According to Trump's legal team, sections were spliced together to create the false impression that he told supporters he would walk with them to the Capitol to "fight like hell".
The documentary was broadcast in the week preceding last year's US election. Speaking from the Oval Office on Monday 16 December 2024, Trump announced the action, stating, "In a little while, you'll be seeing I'm suing the BBC for putting words in my mouth. Literally, they put words in my mouth. They had me saying things that I never said coming out." In a separate filing, he is also suing for an additional $5bn for an alleged violation of trade practices law.
BBC Apology and Internal Fallout
The scandal first erupted earlier this year following a leaked internal memo that raised concerns over the editing process. In response to the leak and mounting pressure, the BBC issued a formal apology to President Trump in November 2024.
BBC Chair Samir Shah apologised for an "error of judgement" and conceded that the editing of the 2024 documentary gave "the impression of a direct call for violent action". A spokesperson stated, "the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited," and confirmed the programme would "not be broadcast again in this form on any BBC platforms".
The internal fallout was significant, leading to the resignations of both BBC Director-General Tim Davie and the head of news, Deborah Turness.
Legal Standoff and Next Steps
Despite the apology, the BBC has indicated it intends to defend the defamation claim vigorously. Prior to the lawsuit being filed, BBC News reported that the corporation had sent a letter to Trump's legal team outlining five main arguments for why it believed there was no basis for the claim. The broadcaster's spokesperson added, "we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim."
The case, now lodged in the Florida judicial system, sets the stage for a protracted and high-profile legal battle between a former world leader and one of the globe's most renowned public service broadcasters. The outcome could have substantial implications for media editing practices and international defamation law.
