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BBC Weighs Apology as Trump Vows to Sue Over Panorama Jan. 6 Edit

The broadcaster is drafting a response before Friday’s deadline that may include a direct apology.

Overview

  • President Donald Trump said he has an "obligation" to file a $1 billion defamation suit, after his lawyers demanded a retraction, apology and compensation by 10 p.m. GMT on Friday.
  • The BBC has acknowledged an editorial error in a 2024 Panorama episode that spliced parts of Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech, which the corporation said gave the impression of a direct call for violent action.
  • Director-general Tim Davie and BBC News chief Deborah Turness resigned on Sunday, and lawmakers and staff have pressed for governance changes, including scrutiny of board member Robbie Gibb.
  • The Guardian reported the BBC is prepared to offer Trump a formal, personal apology in its reply while planning to defend its broader reporting, with lawyers finalizing the corporation’s position.
  • Legal scholars say a U.S. case would face high hurdles such as proving actual malice, jurisdiction and reputational harm, and note the documentary was not widely available in the United States.