U.S. President Donald Trump has announced his intention to sue the BBC for $1 billion (£759 million), accusing the broadcaster of deliberately misrepresenting his January 6, 2021 speech in a Panorama documentary.
In an interview on Fox News’s The Ingraham Angle, Trump said his words were “butchered” and “taken out of context” in a way that “defrauded the public.” The segment in question edited his speech to make it appear as though he had incited the Capitol riot, a claim Trump strongly denies.
“They actually changed my January 6 speech, which was a beautiful and calming speech, and made it sound radical,” Trump said. “What they did was rather incredible… I have an obligation to take action because you can’t allow people to do that.”
The BBC has acknowledged an “error of judgement” in the editing process, with its chair Samir Shah issuing an apology. However, the controversy deepened after a leaked internal memo revealed that an adviser to the BBC’s editorial standards committee had warned the clip could be misleading.
Trump’s legal team has sent a letter demanding a “full and fair retraction,” a public apology, and compensation for “harm caused.” The BBC has until Friday evening to respond.
The fallout has already claimed high-profile resignations, including BBC Director General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness. Both have defended the corporation’s broader record but admitted to “mistakes that have cost us.”
Downing Street has refused to comment, calling it “a matter for the BBC.” The dispute comes as the broadcaster faces critical discussions over the renewal of its royal charter in 2027—a process that could redefine its governance and accountability in a rapidly evolving media landscape.
