Trump Threatens To Sue BBC for $1 Billion, Here’s Why!

US President Donald Trump threatened to sue the BCC Corporation with $1-billion lawsuit for editing one of his speeches that made the audience feel he asked his supporters to go for violent action, ahead of the attack on the US Capitol. The British broadcaster issued a public apology for the editing. The Corporation also said it would review the letter sent by Trump’s legal team. If sued, it would cost heavily for the already cash-strapped BBC, which had cut hundreds of jobs, and is funded by a licence fee paid by those who watch live TV in Britain.

Trump’s lawyers sent a letter to the British broadcaster to completely retract the documentary containing the said speech, apologise and “appropriately compensate” President Trump “for the harm caused to him” by Friday. The letter also warned that if the BBC does not comply, President Trump will be left with no alternative but to enforce his legal and equitable rights, including filing legal action for no less than $1 billion in damages.

On Sunday, BBC director general Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness stepped down over the row.

Trump’s advocates accused BCC of broadcasting a documentary by the Panorama programme containing clips from Trump’s speech which were spliced and later joined, to mislead the public. On November 6, 2021, Trump’s supporters attacked the US Capitol denying the certification of his 2020 US Presidential election defeat by his rival Democrat Joe Biden.

Trump’s legal team said that the documentary made it appear that Trump said he would walk with his supporters and “fight like hell”, while in fact, he said: “We’re going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women.” BBC chairman Samir Shah accepted that the editing of Trump’s speech did give the impression of a direct call for violent action.

Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesman said that the BCC should act swiftly to maintain its trust.

In the wake of the letter, it is worth remembering that in the past, Trump was accused of launching lawsuits to gag the US media, including broadcaster like ABC, CBS and New York Times. Earlier this year, BBC apologized for serious flaws in the making of another documentary on Gaza war.