LONDON, ENGLAND – The BBC announced Tuesday it will defend itself against a $10 billion lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump over a documentary that allegedly misrepresented his Jan. 6, 2021, speech ahead of the Capitol riot.
A BBC spokesperson said the corporation “will be defending this case” but declined to provide further comment on ongoing legal proceedings. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Miami, seeks at least $5 billion per count on two counts of alleged defamation and violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Trump’s legal team claims the documentary edited portions of his speech to make it appear he explicitly encouraged an attack on the Capitol during the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.
The legal action comes as the U.K. government launched a review of the BBC’s Royal Charter, which governs the broadcaster’s funding and operations and is set to be renewed in 2027. Public consultations are exploring issues including the BBC’s commitment to accuracy and potential changes to its funding model, currently based on a mandatory TV license fee. Minister Stephen Kinnock emphasized the government’s strong support for the BBC and endorsed the broadcaster’s decision to stand firm against Trump’s claims.
Trump, 79, had indicated the lawsuit was forthcoming, accusing the BBC of “putting words in my mouth” and suggesting artificial intelligence may have been used in editing the footage. The documentary aired last year on the BBC’s “Panorama” program ahead of the 2024 election. Trump’s team described the documentary as intentionally doctored to interfere with the election, accusing the BBC of a long-standing pattern of biased coverage.
The controversy surrounding the edited clip led to the resignations of BBC Director-General Tim Davie and top news executive Deborah Turness. While the BBC denies any legal wrongdoing, Chairman Samir Shah has sent Trump an apology and acknowledged to a parliamentary committee that the broadcaster should have acted sooner after the error was initially disclosed.
Trump’s lawsuit represents the latest in a series of legal actions the former president has taken against media organizations, several of which have resulted in multimillion-dollar settlements.