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US President Donald Trump has threatened legal action worth $1 billion against the BBC, accusing the broadcaster of “defamatory and malicious” editing of a speech delivered shortly before the 2021 attack on the US Capitol, according to a letter obtained by AFP.
Trump’s legal representatives have given the BBC until Friday to withdraw the documentary in question, issue an apology and provide “appropriate compensation” for the alleged damage caused to the president.
They warned that failure to comply would leave Trump “no alternative” but to pursue legal action seeking no less than $1 billion in damages.
The letter closed with a stark message: “The BBC is on notice. PLEASE GOVERN YOURSELF ACCORDINGLY.”
The row has already prompted the resignation of the BBC’s director general on Sunday, following allegations that its Panorama programme edited Trump’s speech in a way that misrepresented his remarks.
On Monday, the corporation stated that it would “review” the letter from Trump’s legal team and issue a public apology for the editing.
Supporters of the president stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, attempting to stop the formal certification of his election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.
The letter argues that the BBC’s edited broadcast created a “false, defamatory, malicious, disparaging, and inflammatory” portrayal of Trump’s comments outside the White House.
It added that the “fabricated statements” had spread widely online, reaching tens of millions of people and causing “overwhelming financial and reputational harm” to Trump.
A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team confirmed the letter had been delivered, accusing the broadcaster of intentionally altering its documentary to influence the presidential election.
They insisted that Trump intends to hold accountable those responsible for “lies, deception, and fake news.”
Trump has been linked to a series of previous lawsuits targeting major US media organisations, including ABC, CBS and the New York Times, often viewed as attempts to silence critical coverage.
