U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he intends to follow through on his threat to sue the BBC, accusing the broadcaster of “butchering” his January 6 speech in a documentary that has already forced the resignation of two of the network’s top executives.
Speaking publicly about the issue for the first time on U.S. television, Trump said he felt an “obligation” to take legal action, claiming the BBC’s edit distorted his message.
“I have an obligation to do it, because you can’t allow people to do that,” Trump told Fox News, referencing a recent multimillion-dollar settlement with CBS over a similar editing controversy on 60 Minutes earlier this year.
$1 Billion Lawsuit Threat
According to Trump’s legal team, the BBC has until Friday to respond to a formal notice demanding $1 billion in damages, along with a public apology and compensation.
BBC Chair Samir Shah has already issued an apology for the misleading edit featured in the Panorama documentary. However, insiders suggest he may offer a more direct apology to Trump to help ease tensions.
When asked whether he would proceed with the lawsuit, Trump replied:
“I guess I have to, you know why not — because they defrauded the public, and they’ve admitted it.”
He went on to describe his January 6 address as a “beautiful and calming speech”, claiming the BBC edited it to make it sound radical and dishonest.
Fallout and Wider Scandal at the BBC
The controversy over the Panorama documentary has become a major crisis for the BBC. A leaked letter from former standards adviser Michael Prescott to the BBC Board detailed a list of editorial concerns, sparking internal scrutiny.
As a result, both Director-General Tim Davie and BBC News chief Deborah Turness have resigned, deepening the turmoil inside the organization.
Legal experts note that it’s unclear whether Trump’s case could succeed, as BBC iPlayer is unavailable in Florida, potentially complicating claims of direct harm or damages.
Political and Public Reaction
Downing Street declined to comment, saying the matter was for the BBC to address. However, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy told Parliament:
“The BBC is not just a broadcaster, it is a national institution that belongs to us all.”
Trump has previously pursued media organizations with mixed results — winning settlements from CBS and ABC, but losing others, including one against CNN. Still, this latest move underscores his ongoing battle with mainstream media outlets he accuses of misrepresentation.
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