Former US President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC. He claims the broadcaster edited his January 6, 2021 speech to make it appear he encouraged violence at the US Capitol.
Trump alleges the BBC spliced clips, including phrases like “fight like hell,” while removing sections where he called for peaceful protest. He says this edit misrepresented his words and caused reputational and financial harm.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in Miami federal court, also claims the BBC violated Florida law against deceptive and unfair trade practices. Trump seeks $5 billion in damages for each of the two counts in the case.
The BBC has apologized and admitted the edit gave the false impression Trump called for violence. However, the broadcaster said there is no legal basis for the lawsuit. Trump’s lawyers argue the BBC has shown no real remorse or made meaningful changes to prevent future journalistic mistakes.
The edited clip appeared on the BBC’s “Panorama” documentary shortly before the 2024 presidential election. The broadcast sparked a public relations crisis, leading to the resignation of the BBC’s two senior officials. The documentary was never aired in the United States.
Trump’s legal team said the BBC has a long record of misleading coverage in service of a political agenda. UK lawyers noted that any payout could be politically sensitive because the BBC is funded by a mandatory license fee.
Legal experts say Trump faces a challenging case in the US. To win, he must prove the BBC knowingly misled viewers or acted recklessly, overcoming First Amendment protections for free speech and the press. The BBC could argue that the documentary was substantially accurate and did not harm Trump’s reputation.
This lawsuit adds to Trump’s ongoing legal battles with US media outlets, including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CBS, and ABC, over alleged biased coverage.
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The January 6 attack on the US Capitol aimed to block Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory, making Trump’s speech and its portrayal highly controversial.
