BBC says ‘will defend’ after Donald Trump files $10 bn lawsuit

BBC Panorama documentary on Donald Trump

The BBC Panorama documentary, titled “Trump: A Second Chance?” was aired one week before the 2024 election. It also dealt with the incidents of January 6, 2021, when a large number of his supporters, who refused to accept the 2020 results, stormed the Capitol Hill, in an attempt to prevent Joe Biden’s certification as the next US President.

However, in the documentary, which was produced for the BBC by a third party, portions of Trump’s speech were spliced together to give the impression that he incited the crowd.

It spliced together three quotes from two sections of the 2021 speech, delivered almost an hour apart, into what appeared to be one quote in which Trump urged supporters to march with him and “fight like hell.” Among the parts cut out was a section where Trump said he wanted supporters to demonstrate peacefully.

What Trump’s lawsuit said

The civil complaint accuses the BBC of producing a “false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious depiction of President Trump.”

Trump is seeking $10 billion in damages from the BBC, accusing the British broadcaster of defamation as well as deceptive and unfair trade practices.

The lawsuit, filed in a Florida court, seeks $5 billion in damages for defamation and $5 billion for unfair trade practices.

According to the 33-page lawsuit, the documentary was “a brazen attempt to interfere in and influence” the 2024 US presidential election.

BBC, while admitting the mistake, had rejected claims it had defamed Trump. After Trump threatened legal action, BBC chairman Samir Shah called it an “error of judgment,” which triggered the resignations of its top executive and its head of news.

‘They put words in my mouth’

Trump said earlier Monday that he was suing the BBC “for putting words in my mouth.”

“They actually put terrible words in my mouth having to do with Jan. 6 that I didn’t say, and they’re beautiful words, that I said, right?” Trump said.

Britain to review BBC’s funding

The $10 billion Trump lawsuit has dealt a major blow to the credibility of one of the most notable media institutions in the world and also raised questions on its future.

On Tuesday, Britain launched a review into the BBC’s funding, which mainly comes from a $234 annual charge imposed on all viewing households.

The government said on Tuesday it was considering reforms, including options to generate more commercial revenue.

It will also examine options for funding the World Service, which broadcasts to 453 million people globally each week.

Launching the review, culture minister Lisa Nandy said the BBC must reflect the whole of Britain, be an engine for economic growth and be funded in a sustainable and fair way.

“The BBC must remain fiercely independent, accountable and be able to command public trust,” she said.

The broadcaster operates on the basis of a charter, which is reviewed every decade. The current one expires in December 2027.