US President Donald Trump sues BBC for $10 billion, alleges defamation over edited January 6 speech

US President Donald Trump sues BBC for $10 billion, alleges defamation over edited January 6 speech

Washington/London : US President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against British public broadcaster BBC, accusing it of deliberately editing his January 6, 2021 speech in a way that distorted his words and falsely portrayed him as encouraging violence during the attack on the US Capitol.

The lawsuit, filed in a US federal court, claims that a BBC documentary selectively spliced portions of Trump’s speech delivered near the White House ahead of the Capitol riot, omitting key statements in which he urged supporters to protest “peacefully and patriotically.” According to Trump’s legal team, the edits created a misleading narrative that damaged his reputation and falsely linked him to the violence that followed.

Trump is seeking $5 billion in damages for defamation and an additional $5 billion for alleged deceptive trade practices, making it one of the largest libel claims ever filed against an international media organisation.

At the centre of the case is a BBC programme that aired footage of Trump telling supporters to “fight like hell” and to walk toward the Capitol, without showing surrounding remarks in which he explicitly called for non-violent action. The lawsuit alleges the editing was intentional and designed to reinforce a false claim that Trump directly incited the January 6 attack.

“The BBC knowingly presented a manipulated version of President Trump’s speech,” the complaint states, arguing that the broadcaster acted with “actual malice” by ignoring publicly available full transcripts and video recordings.

The BBC has previously acknowledged that the editing of the speech was an “error of judgment,” issuing a public apology earlier this year. Senior executives admitted the segment could have created a misleading impression of the sequence and context of Trump’s remarks. However, the broadcaster has rejected accusations of deliberate defamation and has indicated it will contest the lawsuit vigorously.

Legal experts say Trump faces a high bar in proving defamation under US law. As a public figure, he must demonstrate that the BBC knowingly broadcast false information or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. Questions may also arise over jurisdiction, given that the programme was produced by a UK-based broadcaster and primarily aired outside the United States.

The case adds to Trump’s long history of legal battles with major media organisations, which he has repeatedly accused of biased and misleading coverage. Since returning to office, Trump has renewed his criticism of international media outlets, often portraying lawsuits as part of a broader effort to hold news organisations accountable.

For the BBC, the lawsuit represents a rare legal confrontation with a sitting US president and could have broader implications for global broadcasters operating across jurisdictions. Media freedom advocates are closely watching the case, warning that large financial claims could have a chilling effect on journalism.

The court has not yet set a hearing date. If the case proceeds, it is expected to draw intense political and legal scrutiny on both sides of the Atlantic, reviving debate over the media’s role in covering the events of January 6 and Trump’s responsibility for the unrest.

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