U.S. President Donald Trump has said he is likely to sue the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) next week for damages ranging from $1 to $5 billion, after the broadcaster admitted to mishandling a video of his speech — though the BBC insists the claim has no legal basis.
“We’re going to sue them for $1 to $5 billion, probably next week. I think I have to do it. They even admitted they deceived people,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday evening (November 14).
Trump’s lawyers sent a letter to the BBC on Monday, accusing the network of defamation over edited footage of his speech on the day of the January 6th Capitol riots in 2021. The letter demanded an apology and financial compensation for what Trump describes as “significant reputational and financial harm,” with a Friday deadline.
BBC in Crisis Over Panorama Documentary
The controversy centers around a Panorama documentary, which intercut three segments of Trump’s January 6th speech. Trump’s legal team says the edit falsely implied that he incited violence, calling the montage “false and defamatory.”
The scandal has triggered one of the BBC’s most severe crises in decades, leading to the resignation of two senior executives and sparking intense political backlash.
“A lot of people in the United Kingdom are very angry about what happened because it shows that the BBC is ‘fake news’,” Trump stated.
Trump to Raise Issue with UK Prime Minister
Trump also claimed he will raise the complaint with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has so far declined to take sides, defending the BBC’s independence.
“I’ll call him over the weekend. He actually left me a message. He’s very embarrassed,” Trump said.
“Beyond Fake News – This Is Corruption”
In a GB News interview, Trump accused the BBC of deliberate manipulation, calling the montage “unbelievable” and comparing it to election interference.
“I gave a beautiful speech, and they turned it into something ugly. ‘Fake news’ was a good term, but it’s not enough anymore. This is more than fake — this is corruption,” he insisted.
He dismissed the BBC’s apology as insufficient, arguing that the footage used statements made nearly an hour apart, suggesting an intentionally misleading narrative.
“It’s outrageous to insinuate that I gave an aggressive speech that triggered violence,” Trump added.
