US President Donald Trump has threatened the BBC with a $1 billion lawsuit, claiming the broadcaster “defamed” him by editing a speech he gave just before the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots. The letter, obtained by AFP, demands that the BBC retract the documentary, issue a formal apology, and compensate Trump for the alleged harm.
“If the BBC fails to comply, President Trump will be left with no alternative but to enforce his legal and equitable rights, including filing legal action for no less than $1,000,000,000 in damages,” the letter warned. It concluded with a stern notice: “The BBC is on notice. PLEASE GOVERN YOURSELF ACCORDINGLY.”
The controversy has already shaken the British broadcaster. The director general of the BBC announced his resignation over the dispute following accusations that the flagship Panorama program had misrepresented Trump’s speech in a misleading way. In response, the BBC said it would review the letter from Trump’s lawyers and publicly apologized for the edits.
Trump’s legal team insists that the edits created a “false, defamatory, malicious, disparaging, and inflammatory” impression of his remarks outside the White House. The letter claims that these manipulated statements were widely circulated online, reaching tens of millions of viewers worldwide, and causing “overwhelming financial and reputational harm” to the former president.
A spokesman for Trump’s legal team confirmed the letter had been sent but provided no additional details. “The BBC defamed President Trump by intentionally and deceitfully editing its documentary to interfere in the presidential election,” the spokesman said. “President Trump will continue to hold accountable those who traffic in lies, deception, and fake news.”
Trump has a history of filing lawsuits against major media outlets, including ABC, CBS, and The New York Times, alleging defamation and biased reporting. This latest move against the BBC adds to his ongoing battles with the press over how his words and actions are portrayed.
