UK PM Demands BBC Accountability as Trump Considers $1 Billion Lawsuit Over Misleading Edit

United Kingdom:

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday emphasized that the BBC should "get their house in order" following US President Donald Trump's statement that he had an "obligation" to pursue a $1 billion lawsuit against the corporation for a misleading edit of his speech.

During a parliamentary session, Starmer expressed that while he advocates for a "strong and independent BBC," he also believes the organization should "uphold the highest standards to be accountable and correct errors quickly."

"Where mistakes are made, they do need to get their house in order," he stated in response to a question urging him to persuade Trump to abandon his legal threat.

Trump's legal team threatened the British broadcaster with a billion-dollar lawsuit on Monday, according to documents viewed by AFP, as the BBC apologized for creating the impression that the president had encouraged "violent action" prior to the 2021 US Capitol incident.

In a Fox News interview recorded Monday, when asked if he intended to sue the BBC, Trump replied, "I guess I have to, why not?"

"I think I have an obligation to do it because you can't allow people to do that," Trump stated, without confirming whether he had officially initiated proceedings for a defamation lawsuit.

"They defrauded the public and they've admitted it."

Britain "is supposedly one of our great allies," and "the government has a chunk of that one," Trump added, referring to the publicly funded BBC.

Starmer's Labour government has been carefully balancing support for the broadcaster's independence while avoiding appearing to take a position against Trump.

The BBC director-general and the organization's top news executive resigned Sunday over the controversy.

The BBC has indicated it would "review" the letter from Trump's legal team. BBC chair Samir Shah issued a public apology on Monday for an "error of judgment" made in the editing.

According to a YouGov poll published on Tuesday, fifty-seven percent of Britons believe the BBC should apologize directly to the US president, while a quarter opposed such an apology.

This dispute emerges during a politically sensitive period for the BBC, which is scheduled to renegotiate the Royal Charter outlining the corporation's governance. Its current charter will expire in 2027.

Trump has been accused of initiating numerous lawsuits to suppress criticism in US media since returning to power in January.

The BBC documentary featuring the edited Trump speech was broadcast last year.

It appeared he had told supporters he was going to walk to the US Capitol with them and "fight like hell," but he also told the audience in the intervening period: "We're going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women."