Donald Trump Confirms He Will Sue the BBC Over Edited Speech Controversy

President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will sue the BBC, announcing the decision aboard Air Force One just minutes ago.

Speaking to reporters during a late-evening flight, the President said he intends to file the lawsuit “probably sometime next week”, escalating an already explosive dispute over a misleadingly edited BBC Panorama broadcast.

Trump said the damages sought will range “anywhere between $1 billion and $5 billion”, accusing the BBC of distorting his 6 January 2021 speech through an edit that he claims falsely implied he incited violence at the US Capitol.

The BBC has already issued a formal apology, describing the edit as an “error of judgement”, and confirmed the programme in that form would not be broadcast again. However, the corporation has stood firm in rejecting any suggestion that the mistake qualifies as defamation.

Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump insisted the apology “does not go far enough”, telling reporters the broadcaster “did very bad things” and must face legal consequences. His legal team is reportedly finalising the lawsuit, which is expected to be filed next week in what could become one of the most high-profile media-law cases in years.

The escalating row comes as the BBC grapples with surging political scrutiny and an internal crisis that has already prompted government commentary. The UK Culture Secretary yesterday welcomed the BBC’s apology but stressed the need for stronger editorial standards.

Legal analysts say the case could face hurdles, particularly around jurisdiction and the burden of proving reputational damage across borders. But the President’s confidence — and the global attention surrounding the controversy — means the lawsuit is likely to dominate international headlines in the coming days.

The BBC has yet to respond to Trump’s latest comments from Air Force One, though it has previously stated it “strongly disagrees” that the Panorama edit provides grounds for a successful lawsuit.