President Trump sued the BBC for $10
billion, alleging its documentary edit falsely suggested he called for violence
before the U.S. Capitol attack.
MIAMI, UNITED STATES — On 2025-12-16,
former U.S. President Donald J. Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit
against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in federal court in Miami,
accusing the broadcaster of deceptively editing his January 6, 2021 speech in a
documentary and creating a “mistaken impression” that he encouraged supporters
toward violent action at the U.S. Capitol.
Core event or development
Trump’s complaint, filed in the Southern
District of Florida, alleges the BBC’s Panorama documentary spliced portions of
his January 6 speech in a way that obscured his call for peaceful protest and
suggested he urged supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol.
The lawsuit claims two counts:
defamation under U.S. law and violation of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade
Practices Act, with Trump seeking $5 billion in damages for each count.
According to court documents cited by
Reuters and AP, Trump asserts the edited clip “gave the mistaken impression” he
had directly called for violence — an allegation the BBC has disputed.
The BBC apologised earlier this year,
acknowledging an “error of judgment” in the edit and stating it regretted the
impression created, but it has maintained there is no legal basis for the
lawsuit.
Significance and impact
The legal action marks a rare
international defamation lawsuit involving a U.S. political figure and a major
foreign public broadcaster. If successful, it could have significant
implications for cross-border media liability and journalistic standards in
politically sensitive reporting.
The case adds to Trump’s broader pattern
of litigation against media organisations, including suits against other U.S.
outlets in 2025 that have resulted in settlements or ongoing court battles.
The BBC’s internal crisis over the
editing controversy has already led to the resignation of senior leadership,
including its Director-General and Head of News.
The dispute stems from a Panorama
episode titled Trump: A Second Chance? broadcast in the United Kingdom in
October 2024, shortly before the U.S. 2024 presidential election. The programme
included footage linking Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021 with the attack on
the U.S. Capitol.
According to internal BBC documents
reported by The Daily Telegraph, parts of Trump’s remarks were edited together
— segments spoken nearly an hour apart — generating a portrayal that appeared
to link his words directly to the Capitol assault.
The BBC later issued an apology,
explaining the edit was a misjudgment and not indicative of intent to mislead.
It affirmed that it did not consider the error sufficient basis for legal
action.
In U.S. defamation law, a public figure
like Trump must prove not only falsity but also that the defendant acted with
“actual malice” — knowingly publishing falsehoods or acting recklessly. Legal
analysts have noted this requirement presents a high evidentiary hurdle.
Reactions and official perspectives
A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team
said the BBC’s conduct “has caused overwhelming reputational and financial
harm,” framing the lawsuit as a defense against what his advisers portray as
politically motivated reportage.
The BBC has reiterated its position that
the apology was appropriate but that it rejects claims of defamatory conduct.
The broadcaster said it intends to defend itself in court and has offered no
further comment on the pending litigation.
In the United Kingdom, some politicians
have publicly supported the BBC’s editorial independence and urged resistance
to external pressure. British ministers argued the broadcaster should uphold
journalistic standards despite legal challenges.
What happens next
The case will proceed in the U.S.
federal legal system, where a judge will consider the BBC’s jurisdictional
exposure and the merits of Trump’s claims under both defamation and
consumer-protection statutes.
Because the documentary was not aired on
U.S. television — though available via online streaming — the court will likely
address questions of American jurisdiction and whether Trump can establish that
the BBC’s conduct caused compensable harm domestically.
No trial date has been set, and legal
experts have said the litigation could take months or years to resolve. Follow
ongoing updates on CRN Times.
Editorial Credits
Author — World: Sofia Martinez, Global News Editor
Editor-in-Chief — Maria Perez