Trump sues BBC for $10bn in lawsuit

Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against the BBC, alleging the corporation's Panorama documentary portrayed him in a "false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious" manner.

The complaint relates to the broadcaster's editing of a speech he made in 2021 on the day his supporters stormed the Capitol building.

Clips were spliced together from sections of the US president's speech on January 6 2021 to make it appear he told supporters he was going to walk to the US Capitol with them to "fight like hell".

It aired in the documentary Trump: A Second Chance?, which was broadcast by the BBC the week before last year's US election.

The US president is seeking damages of no less than $5bn (£3.7bn) under a defamation lawsuit.

He has also sued for $5bn for alleged violation of a trade practices law.

Both lawsuits have been filed in Florida.

'They put words in my mouth'

Speaking in the Oval Office earlier on Monday, he said: "In a little while, you'll be seeing I'm suing the BBC for putting words in my mouth.

"Literally, they put words in my mouth. They had me saying things that I never said coming out."

The scandal erupted earlier this year after a leaked memo highlighted concerns over the way the clips were edited.

Responding to the lawsuit, a BBC spokesperson said: "As we have made clear previously, we will be defending this case. We are not going to make further comment on ongoing legal proceedings."

After the leak, BBC chair Samir Shah apologised on behalf of the broadcaster over an "error of judgement" and accepted the editing of the 2024 documentary gave "the impression of a direct call for violent action".

The fallout from the saga led to the resignation of both the BBC director-general Tim Davie and the head of news Deborah Turness.

Earlier, BBC News reported the broadcaster had set out five main arguments in a letter to Mr Trump's legal team as to why it did not believe there was a basis for a defamation claim.

In November, the BBC officially apologised to the president, adding that it was an "error of judgement" and saying the programme will "not be broadcast again in this form on any BBC platforms".

A spokesperson said "the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited", but they also added that "we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim".

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'Trump's outrageous legal threat'

Speaking on Mornings with Ridge and Frost, health minister Stephen Kinnock backed the BBC.

He said: "Well, it's absolutely right that the BBC is an independent organisation.

"I think they have apologised for one or two of the mistakes that were made in that Panorama programme. But they've also been very clear that there is no case to answer in terms of Mr Trump's accusations on the broader point about, libel or defamation. So, you know, I think it's right that the BBC stands firm on that point.

"Yes, there were some mistakes made in that particular piece of film, but I think the broader argument that they were making, they're right to stick by their guns on that. And I hope that they will continue to do so as an independent organisation, of course, funded by the licence fee, a hugely important institution."

He added: "I am a massive supporter. The government is a massive supporter of the BBC. The Labour Party will always stand up for the BBC as a vitally important institution, in both our political life and of course, in terms of entertaining and informing the British public."

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said: "Keir Starmer needs to stand up for the BBC against Trump's outrageous legal threat and protect licence fee-payers from being hit in the pocket.

"The Trump administration has clearly set out they want to interfere in our democracy, which includes undermining our national broadcaster.

"The prime minister needs to make clear this is unacceptable."

(c) Sky News 2025: Trump sues BBC for $10bn in lawsuit