Trump Files $5 Billion Lawsuit Against BBC Over Misleading Video Edit: Legal Battle Escalates

US President Donald Trump announced on Friday his intention to pursue legal action against the BBC, seeking damages between $1 billion and $5 billion after the British broadcaster apologized for misleadingly editing one of his speeches but declined to offer financial compensation.

Despite the BBC's rejection of Trump's defamation claims, the president remains firm in his pursuit of legal recourse. This ongoing dispute continues even as several senior BBC executives have departed, raising concerns about potential complications in US-UK relations.

"We'll sue them for anywhere between a billion and five billion dollars, probably some time next week. I think I have to do it. They've even admitted that they cheated," Trump told reporters while speaking on Air Force One.

Previously, Trump had mentioned a potential $1 billion lawsuit, representing approximately 13 percent of the BBC's annual revenue, which primarily comes from licence fees paid by British citizens.

The corporation has experienced internal turmoil after a clip from its flagship program "Panorama," aired before the 2024 US presidential election, resurfaced last week showing an edited version of Trump's statements.

On Monday, the BBC issued a formal apology for creating the impression in the documentary that Trump had directly encouraged "violent action" shortly before his supporters marched to the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

"The people of the UK are very angry about what happened, as you can imagine, because it shows the BBC is fake news," Trump stated on Friday.

The president also indicated his intention to discuss the matter with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has defended the broadcaster's independence while avoiding direct opposition to Trump.

"I'm going to call him over the weekend. He actually put a call into me. He's very embarrassed," Trump revealed.

Trump's legal representatives delivered a letter to the BBC on Monday accusing the organization of damaging the president's reputation and setting a Friday deadline for an apology and compensation.

According to the BBC, chairman Samir Shah wrote "a personal letter to the White House making clear to President Trump that he and the corporation are sorry for the edit of the president's speech."

However, the broadcaster also maintained, "While the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited, we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim."

In the United Kingdom, this incident has reignited intense debate regarding public broadcaster operations and neutrality, adding pressure to an organization already facing numerous controversies.

The controversy emerges at a critical juncture as the BBC approaches negotiations for its next Royal Charter, the document that defines the corporation's governance. The current charter expires in 2027.

The edited video controversy has already led to resignations of the director-general and the corporation's chief news executive.

The broadcaster has also confirmed it is investigating a separate modification to one of Trump's speeches from the Capitol attack day, a version that the Telegraph reported was broadcast on "Newsnight" in June 2022.

In an interview with GB News aired Friday, Trump reiterated his commitment to pursuing legal action.

"This was so egregious," he said of the edit, adding, "If you don't do it, you don't stop it from happening again with other people."