Donald Trump has stated he considers it an "obligation" to file a lawsuit against the BBC following an edit of his January 6, 2021 speech in a Panorama documentary. Speaking to Fox News, Trump claimed the speech was "butchered" and that the presentation "defrauded" viewers by making it "sound radical."
Legal Actions Initiated
Trump's legal representatives previously sent a letter to the BBC, threatening to sue for $1 billion (£759 million) unless a retraction, apology, and compensation are provided. This marks Trump's first public comments on the matter since the letter was issued.
When asked on Fox News's "The Ingraham Angle" if he would proceed with legal action, Trump responded, "Well I guess I have to... because they defrauded the public, and they've admitted it." He further elaborated, "They actually changed my January 6 speech, which was a beautiful speech, which was a very calming speech, and they made it sound radical. And they actually changed it. What they did was rather incredible." The interview segment regarding the BBC was published by Fox News late on Tuesday evening in the US, following the BBC's receipt of the legal letter on Sunday. The letter specifies a deadline of Friday at 22:00 GMT for the BBC's response.
BBC Response and Internal Context
A BBC spokesperson confirmed, "We are reviewing the letter and will respond directly in due course." BBC chair Samir Shah had previously issued an apology, acknowledging an "error of judgement" concerning the edit.
The specific edit in question, which aired in a Panorama documentary before the November 2024 US presidential election, came under scrutiny after an internal BBC memo was leaked. This memo, authored by Michael Prescott, a former independent external adviser to the BBC's editorial standards committee, raised concerns that the edited section of Trump's speech might imply he explicitly encouraged the January 2021 Capitol riot.
The original segment of Trump's speech included the statement: "We're going to walk down to the Capitol, and we're going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women." The Panorama documentary, however, spliced together two sections of the speech, separated by over 50 minutes, to show him saying: "We're going to walk down to the Capitol... and I'll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell."
Wider Implications and Reactions
The situation has coincided with the resignations of BBC Director General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness. During an internal meeting, Davie addressed staff, stating, "We have made some mistakes that have cost us, but we need to fight," and emphasized the BBC's "good work." Neither Davie nor Shah referenced Trump's legal threat during their address.
Downing Street commented that the matter is "for the BBC" and not the government. The controversy occurs during a sensitive period for the BBC, as discussions for the renewal of its royal charter are pending before its expiration at the end of 2027. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy will oversee these negotiations, aiming to "renew its mission for the modern age" and ensure a "genuinely accountable" organization.
The culture select committee is expected to call senior BBC figures, including Shah, Sir Robbie Gibb, Caroline Thomson, and Michael Prescott, to provide evidence. Separately, the Reform UK party has informed BBC News that it is withdrawing cooperation from a commissioned documentary about its rise, citing the Trump row. This follows the party having granted "unprecedented access" to the production team.
Trump has a history of legal actions or threats against media organizations, including settlements with CBS News and ABC News, and attempts to sue the New York Times.