Overview
- Trump told Fox News he feels an obligation to pursue a case, accusing the BBC of having “defrauded the public,” while stopping short of confirming a filing.
- His attorney Alejandro Brito has demanded a full retraction, apology and compensation, threatening at least $1bn in damages and giving the BBC until 22:00 GMT on Friday to respond, with a Florida suit indicated.
- The BBC has apologised for an edit that it accepts gave the impression Trump directly urged violent action and said it will review the legal letter.
- The Panorama segment spliced lines from Trump’s January 6 speech that were nearly an hour apart to link “walk to the Capitol” with “fight like hell,” and it aired in late October 2024 before the US election.
- The fallout has widened in the UK, with Director‑General Tim Davie and BBC News chief Deborah Turness resigning, ministers preparing a charter review, and MPs and staff pressing for scrutiny of board member Robbie Gibb.