Trump's $1 Billion Lawsuit Threat Against BBC Over Misleading Speech Edit That Led to Executive Resignations

US President Donald Trump has threatened the BBC with a billion-dollar lawsuit following the broadcaster's apology for editing a speech that suggested he called for "violent action" before the 2021 US Capitol attack.

In a formal letter reviewed by AFP, Trump's legal team has given the British broadcaster until Friday to fully retract the documentary containing the edit, issue an apology, and provide appropriate compensation for damages caused to the president.

The letter states that if the BBC fails to comply, "President Trump will be left with no alternative but to enforce his legal and equitable rights... including by filing legal action for no less than $1,000,000,000 (One Billion Dollars) in damages," concluding with: "The BBC is on notice. PLEASE GOVERN YOURSELF ACCORDINGLY."

The controversy has already led to significant fallout, with both the BBC director general and the organization's top news executive resigning on Sunday over the editing scandal. The broadcaster has promised to review Trump's legal team's letter and has issued a public apology for the misleading edit.

According to Trump's lawyers, the BBC's edit created a "false, defamatory, malicious, disparaging, and inflammatory" impression of his speech outside the White House. The edited version suggested he had instructed supporters to "fight like hell" and march to the Capitol, omitting that he had also told the audience: "We're going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women."

The legal notice claims that "due to their salacious nature, the fabricated statements that were aired by the BBC have been widely disseminated throughout various digital mediums, which have reached tens of millions of people worldwide," resulting in "overwhelming financial and reputational harm" to the former president.

A spokesperson for Trump's legal team confirmed the letter had been sent, stating: "President Trump will continue to hold accountable those who traffic in lies, deception, and fake news." This action follows a pattern of legal challenges Trump has initiated against media outlets, including previous lawsuits targeting ABC, CBS, and the New York Times.

The incident has reignited debate about the British broadcaster, which enjoys widespread respect but faces persistent accusations of bias from across the political spectrum.

In response, BBC chairman Samir Shah acknowledged in a letter to MPs that the editing of Trump's speech "did give the impression of a direct call for violent action," adding: "The BBC would like to apologise for that error of judgement." The broadcaster has committed to reforming its oversight processes.

Following the resignation of Director General Tim Davie and BBC News CEO Deborah Turness on Sunday, Trump celebrated the development, accusing BBC journalists of being "corrupt" and "dishonest." His press secretary described the broadcaster as "100-percent fake news."

Despite these criticisms, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesman defended the organization, telling reporters the BBC "has a vital role in an age of disinformation" while acknowledging "it's important that the BBC acts swiftly to maintain trust and correct mistakes quickly when they occur."

The government is preparing a review of the BBC's charter, which outlines the corporation's governance and funding structure, with the current charter set to expire in 2027. The financially strained broadcaster, which has already eliminated hundreds of jobs, is funded primarily through license fees paid by UK residents who watch live television.

The BBC's credibility crisis has deepened following a report by the right-wing Daily Telegraph last week that claimed warnings from a former external standards adviser about "serious and widespread failings of impartiality and systemic bias" had been ignored by management.

This controversy follows other recent incidents that have damaged the BBC's reputation, including an apology for "serious flaws" in a documentary about the Gaza war that the UK's media watchdog deemed "materially misleading," and criticism for failing to cut a livestream of punk-rap duo Bob Vylan during this year's Glastonbury festival after anti-Israel comments were made by its frontman.