Donald Trump has announced that he intends to pursue legal action against the BBC despite receiving an apology regarding a misleading edit of one of his speeches. This matter stems from a Panorama episode aired last year that covered the Capitol riot in January 2021. The situation has triggered accusations of bias against the BBC, resulting in the resignation of two top executives: director general Tim Davie and news chief executive Deborah Turness.
Previously, Trump indicated that he would initiate a lawsuit if his demands were not met, and he recently stated to reporters on Air Force One, “We’ll sue them for anywhere between a billion and $5bn, probably sometime next week.” Following the apology, the BBC maintained that there was no legal justification for Trump’s claims, which his lawyers described as defamatory. They had threatened a $1 billion lawsuit unless the BBC issued a retraction, apology, and financial settlement.
The BBC has refrained from broadcasting the disputed Panorama episode again. In addressing this matter, Trump mentioned he had not yet spoken to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, though he plans to do so soon. The controversy reignited when an internal memo surfaced, revealing the misleading edit suggested Trump had told supporters to storm the Capitol, which led to considerable unrest and multiple fatalities.
The actual quote from the speech included a call to support legislators before he later mentioned fighting. The mob’s actions, driven by claims of a stolen 2020 election, resulted in significant judicial consequences, and many individuals involved have faced legal repercussions. In correspondence with Trump’s legal team, the BBC outlined its position, stating that the program aired only in the UK and that it did not harm Trump, who was re-elected shortly thereafter. The BBC characterized the edit as an isolated incident within a longer program that included diverse opinions.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/15/trump-says-he-will-take-legal-action-against-bbc-despite-its-apology