Overview
- President Donald Trump filed a federal lawsuit in Miami on Monday accusing the BBC of defamation and deceptive trade practices and seeking a minimum of $5 billion on each count.
- His complaint focuses on a Panorama segment that aired in October 2024, alleging it spliced lines from different parts of his January 6, 2021 speech to make it appear he urged supporters to attack the Capitol.
- Trump told reporters the BBC “literally put words in my mouth,” and his legal team argues the edit was intentional and aimed at influencing the 2024 U.S. election.
- The BBC has faced fallout over the segment, including the resignations of director-general Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness, an internal acknowledgment of editorial failure, and an apology letter from BBC president Samir Shah.
- The broadcaster has indicated it will contest the suit, while Trump—who previously suggested damages of $1–5 billion—has escalated his demand to $10 billion in this filing.