US President Donald Trump has stated he will initiate legal proceedings against the BBC in response to an edited version of his speech aired by Panorama. Speaking aboard Air Force One on Friday, Trump mentioned plans to sue for an amount ranging from $1 billion to $5 billion, potentially as early as next week. The BBC had previously apologized for what they described as an unintentional error that misled viewers into believing Trump incited violence in his January 6, 2021, speech. However, the corporation declined to provide financial compensation or rebroadcast the segment.
The BBC's statement followed a warning from Trump's legal team demanding an apology, a retraction, and compensation under threat of a $1 billion lawsuit. Trump expressed his determination, saying, "I think I have to do it," arguing that the BBC "cheated" by altering his statements. He noted that he had not yet discussed the matter with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, though a conversation was planned.
A search on Friday evening revealed no lawsuit had been filed in Florida's federal or state courts. In an interview recorded prior to his comments on Air Force One, Trump reiterated his sense of duty to pursue legal action to prevent similar incidents, calling the edit "egregious" and comparing it unfavorably to a previous dispute with CBS over an interview involving Kamala Harris. That dispute was settled in July when Paramount Global agreed to a $16 million resolution. Gary O'Donoghue provides further insights into the developments.