Alleged Misinterpretation of 2021 Capitol Speech
Donald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for up to $5 billion, citing its handling of his 2021 speech over the events on January 6 at Capitol Hill. Trump said that the broadcaster edited key parts of his speech. His lawyers have since written to the corporation, asking it to pay $1 billion in compensation for what they say was the damage done to his reputation.
BBC Apologizes but Refuses to Pay Compensation
The BBC apologized for the editing mistake but refused to pay compensation as Trump demanded. Following the refusal, Trump repeated his intention to sue. He indicated he expects to file the lawsuit next week, and he plans to raise the issue with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Background of the Edited Broadcast
Trump had delivered an approximately one-hour speech in Washington on January 6, 2021. The BBC later included segments of this speech in its Panorama documentary. Critics said the editing created a misleading version of the original remarks. The issue led to political pressure. Following the controversy, BBC Director General Tim Davie and News Chief Deborah Turness resigned.
Despite an expression of regret by the BBC, Trump continued to demand compensation of $1 billion. BBC Chairman Sameer Shah sent a personal letter to the White House expressing regret for the mistake. The broadcaster confirmed it had rejected Trump's financial demand. Trump issued a new warning after the company declined to compensate him.
