Shortly after American President Donald Trump accused the British broadcasting corporation of defamation and misleading editing of his January 6, 2021 speech, the BBC stated it will vigorously defend itself against the $5 billion lawsuit. The lawsuit concerns a Panorama documentary that aired in the United Kingdom before the 2024 American presidential elections.
According to court documents filed in Florida, Trump claims the BBC deliberately distorted his speech before the Capitol riots, creating what he calls a false impression that he directly incited violence. His legal team describes the editing as “malicious and misleading,” which, according to him, damaged his reputation.
BBC: We will fight Donald Trump’s lawsuit
The BBC has already apologized for the way a specific excerpt of the speech was edited, acknowledging that the editing gave a “misleading impression.” However, it categorically rejects the claim that there is a legal basis for a defamation lawsuit and refuses to pay any compensation. A spokesperson for the organization stated that “as has been made clear previously, the BBC will defend itself in this case,” adding that there will be no further comments while legal proceedings are ongoing.
In the controversial January 6, 2021 speech, Trump initially stated that the crowd would head to the Capitol to “encourage the brave senators and representatives.” More than 50 minutes later, he used the phrase “we will fight with all our strength.” In Panorama, the two excerpts were broadcast consecutively, making it appear they were part of a single statement. Trump claims this presentation altered the meaning of his words.
The case has sparked intense reactions in the United Kingdom. Health Secretary Steven Kinnock stated that the BBC was right to “stand firm,” emphasizing that despite acknowledged mistakes, a defamation case is not substantiated. He also reiterated that the Labour Party will always defend the BBC as an institution vital to democracy.
Meanwhile, Conservative shadow Culture Secretary Nigel Huddleston called on the Prime Minister to use his influence to explain to Trump that the lawsuit could have negative consequences for British license fee payers. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called the lawsuit “unacceptable.”
Trump, who has a history of lawsuits against media outlets, has previously secured multimillion-dollar settlements from American organizations. However, Chris Ruddy, head of Newsmax Media and Trump ally, admitted that in the US it is extremely difficult to win a defamation lawsuit, as the legal bar is particularly high.
Despite the high cost of a potential legal battle, estimated at up to $100 million, former BBC executives argue the organization has no choice but to defend the case. As former BBC Radio director Mark Damazer stated, the issue touches the core of the BBC’s independence and credibility.
