Overview
- The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Miami on December 15, alleges defamation and violations of Florida’s deceptive and unfair trade practices law, seeking up to $5 billion per count.
- Trump’s complaint says a BBC Panorama documentary spliced separate lines from his January 6, 2021 remarks to imply he urged supporters to march to the Capitol and “fight,” and it quotes him denying he ever said those words.
- The BBC apologized for the edit, with chair Samir Shah calling it an error of judgment, and the fallout included the resignations of Director General Tim Davie and BBC News chief Deborah Turness.
- A BBC spokesperson said the corporation will defend the case and sees no legal basis for a defamation claim, noting the program did not air in the United States as Trump’s filing points to access via the BritBox streaming platform.
- Experts cited in coverage highlight hurdles for Trump that include proving actual malice and establishing publication and harm in Florida, while any damages or legal costs would be sensitive given the BBC’s public funding.