Former U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against Britain’s public broadcaster, the BBC, alleging it deceptively edited footage of his January 6, 2021 speech to falsely suggest he urged supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol.
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The lawsuit, filed Monday in a federal court in Miami, accuses the BBC of splicing together remarks in which Trump told supporters to march to the Capitol and to “fight like hell,” while omitting his call for peaceful protest. Trump claims the edit created a misleading and damaging impression that he directly incited violence.
Trump is seeking $5 billion in damages on each of two counts, alleging defamation and violations of Florida’s deceptive and unfair trade practices law.
The BBC has previously apologized, acknowledging an error of judgment and conceding the edit gave a mistaken impression. However, the broadcaster maintains there is no legal basis for the lawsuit. A BBC spokesperson said the organization has had no further contact from Trump’s lawyers and that its position remains unchanged.
The disputed clip appeared in a Panorama documentary aired shortly before the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The controversy triggered a major internal crisis at the BBC, resulting in the resignation of two senior executives. The broadcaster has since said it will not rebroadcast the documentary.
Legal experts note Trump faces a high bar under U.S. law, which strongly protects free speech and the press. To prevail, he must show the BBC knowingly misled viewers or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. The BBC may argue the program was substantially accurate and caused no measurable reputational harm, particularly as it was not broadcast in the United States.
The lawsuit adds to a series of legal actions Trump has taken against major media outlets, including the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, as he continues to challenge coverage he considers biased or misleading.
