Former US President Donald Trump has filed a major lawsuit against the BBC, seeking at least $10 billion in damages over allegations of defamation linked to a misleading edited video broadcast by the British public broadcaster.
The legal action was filed on Monday in Florida, where Trump is demanding a minimum of $5 billion in compensation for each of two claims. These include defamation and violations of laws governing deceptive and unfair business practices.
The lawsuit stems from a BBC documentary segment that featured an edited version of a speech by Trump, which critics say gave the impression that he had encouraged violent action shortly before his supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The broadcaster later issued an apology, acknowledging that the video editing was misleading.
The controversy has resurfaced after the altered clip recently reappeared in the BBC’s flagship Panorama programme, which aired ahead of the 2024 US presidential election. The renewed attention has caused internal disruption within the broadcaster and intensified political scrutiny.
BBC chairman Samir Shah reportedly sent a personal letter to the White House that included a formal apology on behalf of the organisation. However, the move appears to have failed to defuse Trump’s anger, with the 79-year-old politician pressing ahead with legal action.
Trump has a history of filing lawsuits against major media outlets and has threatened legal action against others. In several cases, US media organisations have reportedly paid substantial sums to settle disputes and avoid prolonged litigation.
Since returning to power, Trump has reshaped media access at the White House by welcoming supportive content creators and social media influencers, while frequently criticising and publicly attacking journalists from traditional news organisations.
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