President Donald Trump has threatened to sue the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for $1 billion over allegations that the broadcaster deliberately edited one of his speeches to interfere in last year’s U.S. presidential election.
In a legal letter sent to BBC Chairman Samir Shah at Television Centre, Trump’s legal team accused the corporation of airing “fabricated statements” that were widely disseminated across digital platforms, allegedly causing “overwhelming financial and reputational harm” to the President.
The letter, signed by Florida-based attorney Alejandro Brito, stated that Trump would be left with “no alternative” but to pursue legal action unless the BBC issued a full retraction, a public apology, and appropriate compensation by close of business on Friday.
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“The BBC is on notice,” Brito wrote, adding that the broadcaster’s conduct had reached tens of millions of viewers worldwide and constituted a grave injustice.
The controversy centres on a Panorama documentary that reportedly edited out a portion of Trump’s speech delivered before the January 6 Capitol riot, specifically the section where he urged supporters to demonstrate peacefully.
The fallout from the scandal has led to the resignations of BBC Director General Tim Davie and CEO of BBC News Deborah Turness.
Responding to the legal threat, a BBC spokesperson said the corporation would “review the letter and respond directly in due course.” Meanwhile, BBC Chairman Samir Shah issued an apology to President Trump and expressed willingness to offer a personal apology. “He’s a litigious fellow. So we should be prepared for all outcomes,” Shah said when asked about the possibility of a lawsuit.
In a statement to NBC, a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team accused the BBC of defamation, alleging that the broadcaster “intentionally and deceitfully edited its documentary in order to try and interfere in the Presidential Election.” The spokesperson added that Trump “will continue to hold accountable those who traffic in lies, deception, and fake news.”
The legal threat comes amid internal turmoil at the BBC. Shah, in his first public remarks since the resignations, defended the corporation against claims of misconduct.
He criticized a leaked memo by former adviser Michael Prescott, which had prompted the leadership shake-up, describing it as a “personal account” that offered only a “partial” view of events.
In a 1,600-word letter to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (CMS), Shah acknowledged that “there are occasions when the BBC gets things wrong” but insisted that the leaked report did not reflect the full picture. He said the issues raised by Prescott were already under review by the Editorial Guidelines and Standards Committee (EGSC) and the board.
“There is another view that has gained currency in the coverage — that the BBC has done nothing to tackle these problems. That is also simply not true,” Shah wrote.
He added that during Prescott’s three-year tenure as adviser to the EGSC, the BBC had published corrections, revised editorial guidance, implemented leadership changes, and enforced disciplinary measures where necessary.
Ravenewsonline reports that the dispute between President Trump and the BBC has reignited global debate over media accountability, editorial ethics, and the role of public broadcasters in political discourse.
