U.S. President, Donald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for $1 billion, accusing the British broadcaster of “defamatory and malicious” editing of a speech he delivered ahead of the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots.
According to a letter obtained by AFP, Trump’s lawyers gave the BBC until Friday to retract the documentary, issue a public apology, and compensate him for the alleged damage. “If the BBC fails to comply, President Trump will be left with no alternative but to enforce his legal rights… including filing legal action for no less than $1,000,000,000 in damages,” the letter warned.
The controversy has already led to the resignation of the BBC’s Director-General on Sunday, following public backlash over claims that its Panorama program had edited Trump’s remarks in a misleading way.
In response, the BBC confirmed on Monday that it is “reviewing” the letter from Trump’s legal team and has issued an apology for the editing.
Trump’s lawyers said the edit created a “false, defamatory, and inflammatory” impression of his address near the White House, claiming it caused “overwhelming financial and reputational harm” due to its wide online circulation.
A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team told AFP that the broadcaster had “intentionally and deceitfully edited its documentary to interfere in the presidential election,” adding that Trump would “continue to hold accountable those who traffic in lies, deception, and fake news.”
Trump has previously filed or threatened several lawsuits against U.S. media outlets, including ABC, CBS, and The New York Times, alleging bias and defamation.
