Former US President Donald Trump has stated he feels an 'obligation' to sue the BBC over the editing of his speech in a Panorama documentary. During an appearance on Fox News, Trump claimed that his address on January 6, 2021, was 'butchered' and that the altered version presented to viewers 'defrauded' them.
This public statement marks the first occasion Trump has spoken about the issue since his legal team sent a letter to the BBC demanding a retraction, an apology, and $1 billion in damages. A BBC spokesperson confirmed they are reviewing the letter and will respond in due course. BBC Chair Samir Shah previously apologized for an 'error of judgement' regarding the edit.
In an interview on The Ingraham Angle, Trump indicated he was likely to proceed with the lawsuit because the public had been misled, adding, 'I think I have an obligation to do it.' Although the segment discussing the BBC was recorded on Monday, it wasn't aired by Fox News until late Tuesday night in the U.S.
The letter Trump's lawyers sent to the BBC included a demand for a 'full and fair retraction,' an apology, and compensation for the harm alleged to have been caused, setting a deadline of 22:00 GMT (17:00 EST) on Friday for a response.
Following a leaked internal BBC memo published by the Daily Telegraph, scrutiny has increased. The memo revealed concerns that the edit made it appear as though Trump explicitly encouraged the Capitol riot. The Panorama edit merged two sections of the speech that were more than 50 minutes apart, resulting in Trump saying, 'We're going to walk down to the Capitol... and I'll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.'
The controversy has led to the resignation of both the BBC's director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness. During an internal staff meeting, Davie acknowledged mistakes had been made but emphasized the organization's commitment to integrity and perseverance. He noted that the BBC's work speaks louder than critics suggest. Downing Street commented that the situation is a 'matter for the BBC.'