Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a sharp legal warning to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), threatening to sue the network for $1 billion over what he describes as the “defamatory and malicious” editing of one of his speeches made just before the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol riots.
According to a letter obtained by AFP, Trump’s legal team accused the BBC of deliberately distorting his words in a documentary by the Panorama program, claiming it portrayed him in a false and damaging light. The lawyers demanded that the network retract the documentary, issue a public apology, and compensate Trump for the alleged harm caused to his reputation.
The letter reportedly gave the BBC until Friday to comply, warning that if the broadcaster failed to meet the demands, Trump would “have no alternative but to enforce his legal and equitable rights… including by filing legal action for no less than $1,000,000,000 (One Billion Dollars) in damages.”
It ended with a stern note: “The BBC is on notice. PLEASE GOVERN YOURSELF ACCORDINGLY.”
The fallout has already caused significant internal turmoil within the BBC. Over the weekend, the network’s Director General announced his resignation amid the controversy, following claims that the Panorama documentary had misleadingly edited Trump’s remarks.
In response, the BBC said on Monday that it was reviewing the letter from Trump’s lawyers and had also issued a public apology for the editing error.
The legal team representing Trump maintains that the edit created a “false, defamatory, malicious, disparaging, and inflammatory” portrayal of his speech near the White House on January 6 — the same day his supporters stormed the Capitol in an attempt to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.
“Due to their salacious nature, the fabricated statements that were aired by the BBC have been widely disseminated throughout various digital mediums, which have reached tens of millions of people worldwide,” the letter said. “Consequently, the BBC has caused President Trump to suffer overwhelming financial and reputational harm.”
A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team confirmed that the letter was sent, emphasizing that “the BBC defamed President Trump by intentionally and deceitfully editing its documentary in order to try and interfere in the presidential election.”
They added that Trump would “continue to hold accountable those who traffic in lies, deception, and fake news.”
This move marks yet another clash between Trump and major media organizations. Over the years, the former president has pursued several lawsuits against U.S. outlets including ABC, CBS, and The New York Times, accusing them of bias and misinformation.
As tensions between Trump and the press reignite ahead of another potential election bid, the BBC now faces the challenge of defending its editorial integrity — and potentially, a billion-dollar lawsuit from one of the world’s most controversial political figures.