U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a $5 billion lawsuit against the BBC, accusing the British public broadcaster of defamation and deceptive practices over the editing of his January 6, 2021 speech in a Panorama documentary.
According to court documents filed in Florida, Trump alleges that the BBC deliberately and maliciously edited his remarks in a way that falsely portrayed him as directly inciting violence ahead of the attack on the U.S. Capitol.
BBC Apology, But No Admission of Defamation
The BBC issued an apology last month, acknowledging that the edited segment created a misleading impression. However, the broadcaster rejected Trump’s demand for financial compensation and insisted that there was “no basis for a defamation claim.”
The BBC has not yet formally responded to the lawsuit.
Disputed Editing of the January 6 Speech
Trump’s legal team claims the broadcaster intentionally altered the sequence and context of his words in a Panorama episode aired in the United Kingdom ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, allegedly to damage his reputation.
During his January 6, 2021 rally, Trump told supporters:
“We’re going to walk down to the Capitol and cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women.”
More than 50 minutes later, he added:
“And we’re going to fight. We’re going to fight hard to the end.”
However, the Panorama documentary presented an edited clip in which Trump appeared to say:
“We’re going to walk down to the Capitol… and I’ll be there with you. And we’re going to fight. We’re going to fight to the end.”
The BBC later admitted that this edit wrongly suggested a direct call for violent action, but maintained that it did not meet the legal threshold for defamation.
Trump Expands Legal Battle Against Global Media
Speaking to journalists last month, Trump confirmed his intention to pursue legal action, stating:
“They cheated. They changed the words that came out of my mouth.”
With this lawsuit, Trump is extending his long-running confrontation with the media beyond U.S. borders. He has repeatedly accused major outlets of bias, labeling the media “the enemy of the people,” and has filed lawsuits against The New York Times, CBS, and The Wall Street Journal, the latter owned by Rupert Murdoch, seeking damages of up to $1 billion.
Legal experts note that the case could test the limits of defamation law involving international media organizations, particularly when editorial decisions intersect with political speech and election coverage.
