Former US President Donald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for $1 billion, accusing the broadcaster of attempting to “interfere in the presidential election” by allegedly editing one of his speeches.
A letter sent to BBC Chairman Samir Shah by Trump’s Florida-based legal team warned that the former president would “be left with no alternative but to enforce his legal and equitable rights,” including filing a lawsuit seeking “no less than $1,000,000,000 (One Billion Dollars)” in damages.
Trump’s lawyer, Alejandro Brito, claimed the BBC’s “fabricated statements” were widely circulated online, reaching millions and causing “overwhelming financial and reputational harm.” The letter also stated, “The BBC is on notice.”
Brito outlined three demands: a full retraction, a public apology, and financial compensation by the close of business on Friday.
The legal action follows reports that BBC’s Panorama programme selectively edited Trump’s speech ahead of the January 6 Capitol riot—omitting a section where he told supporters to demonstrate peacefully. The scandal led to the resignations of Director General Tim Davie and BBC News CEO Deborah Turness.
A BBC spokesperson confirmed receipt of the letter, saying, “We will review the letter and respond directly in due course.”
BBC Chairman Samir Shah has since apologised to Trump and said he would be willing to do so in person. “He’s a litigious fellow. So we should be prepared for all outcomes,” Shah added.
Trump, in response, labelled the BBC a “corrupt organisation” and accused Davie and Turness of being “very dishonest people.”
A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team told NBC that the BBC “defamed President Trump by intentionally and deceitfully editing its documentary to interfere in the Presidential Election,” adding that Trump “will continue to hold accountable those who traffic in lies, deception, and fake news.”
The controversy comes as Shah defended the corporation following internal turmoil and the release of a critical memo by former adviser Michael Prescott, which he said presented only a “partial view” of events.
In a 1,600-word letter to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Shah acknowledged that the BBC had made mistakes but rejected claims that the broadcaster tried to conceal them. “There is another view that the BBC has done nothing to tackle these problems. That is simply not true,” he wrote.
Shah added that during Prescott’s tenure, the BBC had “published corrections, clarified editorial guidance, made leadership changes where needed, and taken formal disciplinary measures” to uphold its standards.
