The BBC admitted that an edit of Trump’s speech in the Panorama program unintentionally gave the impression that he had directly called for violence. The broadcaster issued a public apology and confirmed it would not re-air the documentary, but rejected Trump’s demand for compensation, saying there was no basis for a defamation claim.
Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One, said he would file the lawsuit “probably sometime next week” and described the BBC’s actions as “cheating.” He added that he would raise the matter with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. His legal team had earlier threatened to sue the broadcaster for $1 billion unless it issued a retraction, apology, and compensation.
The controversy has already led to the resignations of BBC Director-General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness. The broadcaster is facing mounting pressure over editorial standards, with critics warning that the incident could damage its credibility and strain relations between the UK and the United States.
Trump’s announcement marks one of his most aggressive actions against a major international media organization. The case is expected to test the limits of defamation law across jurisdictions, as Trump seeks damages in U.S. courts for content produced by a UK broadcaster.
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