Trump threatens BBC with $1 billion lawsuit over edited January 6 speech

• Donald Trump threatens a USD 1 billion lawsuit against the BBC over allegedly misleading edits of a speech before the January 6 Capitol riot.
• BBC director general resigns amid the controversy, and the broadcaster promises to review Trump’s legal letter.
• Trump claims the edits were intended to defame him and interfere with the 2020 election.
• BBC apologizes for giving the impression that Trump called for violent action.

US President Donald Trump has threatened the BBC with a USD 1 billion lawsuit, claiming the broadcaster edited one of his speeches in a misleading way just before the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots.

A source close to Trump’s legal team told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Monday that the BBC was given a Friday deadline to retract the program and issue an apology.

Trump’s legal team confirmed that a letter had been sent to the broadcaster, accusing it of defaming the president. A spokesman stated, "The BBC defamed President Trump by intentionally and deceitfully editing its documentary in order to try and interfere in the presidential election."

He added, "President Trump will continue to hold accountable those who traffic in lies, deception, and fake news."

The controversy has already led to the resignation of the BBC’s director general on Sunday. The resignation followed accusations that a Panorama documentary misrepresented Trump’s speech, creating the false impression that he made a direct call for violent action on January 6, 2021.

Earlier on Monday, the BBC announced it would review the legal letter and issued an apology, acknowledging that the edits “gave the impression Republican Trump made a direct call for violent action” on the day of the Capitol riot.

The edited footage has drawn widespread criticism, as Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6 in an attempt to overturn the certification of his 2020 election defeat by President Joe Biden.