November 15, 2025 08:42 AM IST
First published on: Nov 15, 2025 at 08:42 AM IST
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Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One on his way to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo)
US President Donald Trump said he is preparing to sue the BBC after the broadcaster admitted making a misleading edit to a 2021 speech he delivered on the day his supporters overran the US Capitol. The BBC is already facing internal turmoil over the controversy, which has led to the resignation of its director general and head of news.
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday that he plans to file a lawsuit “probably sometime next week,” seeking between $1 billion and $5 billion in damages. “I think I have to do that, I mean they’ve even admitted that they cheated,” Trump said, claiming the edit “changed the words coming out of my mouth,” according to Reuters.
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The crisis grew after the Daily Telegraph published parts of an internal BBC report written by its standards adviser. The report criticised some of the BBC’s ‘Panorama’ news programme titled ‘Trump: A Second Chance?’, which aired just before the 2024 US election. According to Reuters and AP, the programme combined three separate clips from Trump’s 6 January 2021 speech into what looked like one quote, making it seem as though he urged supporters to march with him and “fight like hell.”
Trump’s lawyers said this edit was “false and defamatory.”
BBC apology
The BBC described the edit as an “error of judgment.” While it initially stopped short of a direct apology, the broadcaster confirmed that its chair, Samir Shah, sent a personal letter to the White House on Thursday expressing regret for the mistake, AP reported.
However, the BBC said it “strongly disagreed there is a basis for a defamation claim” and has refused to pay compensation. Trump had earlier set a deadline for the broadcaster to retract the documentary and issue an apology, warning it could face legal action for “no less” than $1 billion.
Trump told reporters he has not yet spoken to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer but intends to call him. He said Starmer had attempted to reach him and was embarrassed by the incident. “The UK is very, very embarrassed by BBC, what they did,” Trump said, according to AP.
Legal experts cited by AP say Trump may struggle to pursue the case in courts in either the US or UK, noting the BBC could argue he suffered no harm, given that he went on to win the 2024 presidential election.
With its top leadership stepping down and criticism growing from political opponents, the BBC must also prepare for the upcoming review of its governing charter, which expires in 2027. UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has said the government will ensure the news organisation is “sustainably funded” and maintains public trust.
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Donald Trump speaks to reporters on Air Force One on his way to his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. (AP Photo) 
