Donald Trump Launches $10bn Lawsuit Against BBC Over Edited Panorama Footage

Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC, claiming defamation over how a speech he gave on January 6, 2021, was edited in a Panorama documentary. The lawsuit, submitted in Florida, seeks $5 billion for defamation and another $5 billion for breach of trade practices. The dispute centers on footage where Trump appeared to say he would “fight like hell” with his supporters at the Capitol, while the original speech stated he would walk with them “peacefully and patriotically.” Trump alleges the BBC intentionally misrepresented his words to interfere with the 2024 US presidential election.

The BBC acknowledged an “error of judgment” in the editing, which gave “the impression of a direct call for violent action,” and issued an apology, but maintains there are no grounds for a defamation claim. Despite the apology, the controversy has led to the resignation of BBC Director-General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness.

The lawsuit argues that the documentary remains accessible to American audiences through the BritBox streaming service, despite not being originally broadcast in the United States. Trump stated he is suing the BBC for “putting words in my mouth literally,” claiming they made him say things he never said.

(Source：Surgezirc United Kingdom)