Trump Files $10 Billion Lawsuit Against BBC Over Defamation Allegations
On Monday, former U.S. President Donald Trump initiated legal proceedings against the BBC, seeking $10 billion in damages. The lawsuit accuses the British broadcaster of defamation, alongside claims of engaging in deceptive and unfair trade practices.
The 33-page legal document asserts that the BBC broadcasted a “false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious depiction of President Trump,” which it describes as a deliberate attempt to meddle with the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election.
Central to the lawsuit is the accusation that the BBC manipulated two distinct segments of Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech. The claim suggests this editing was done to “intentionally misrepresent the meaning of what President Trump said.”
The BBC has not yet responded to a request for comment made by The Associated Press. However, the broadcaster had previously issued an apology to Trump concerning the editing of his January 6 speech. Despite this, the BBC has denied accusations of defamation following threats of legal action from Trump.
BBC chairman Samir Shah referred to the incident as an “error of judgment,” which led to the resignation of two high-ranking executives within the organization. The speech in question occurred before the storming of the U.S. Capitol by some of Trump’s supporters, as Congress prepared to certify the 2020 presidential election results, which Trump had claimed were fraudulently won by President-elect Joe Biden.
An hourlong documentary titled “Trump: A Second Chance?” was broadcast by the BBC shortly before the 2024 election. It controversially edited together three quotes from two separate parts of Trump’s 2021 speech into one segment, omitting a part where Trump urged his supporters to demonstrate peacefully.
Trump has publicly stated his intentions to take legal action against the BBC, accusing them of “putting words in my mouth.” During an Oval Office appearance, Trump expressed his frustration, saying, “They actually put terrible words in my mouth having to do with Jan. 6 that I didn’t say… They’re beautiful words, talking about patriotism and all of the good things that I said. They didn’t say that, but they put terrible words.”
The lawsuit was filed in Florida, as the deadline to pursue the case in British courts had already passed. Legal experts have noted potential difficulties in pursuing the case in the U.S., given that the documentary was not aired domestically. However, the lawsuit argues that U.S. viewers can access BBC’s original content, including the “Panorama” series, via the BritBox streaming service.
The BBC, a 103-year-old institution funded by an annual license fee paid by households watching live TV or BBC content, is obligated by its charter to maintain impartiality. This often results in the broadcaster facing scrutiny and criticism from various political factions.
