US President Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit seeking up to $10 billion in damages against the BBC, accusing the broadcaster of deliberately and misleadingly editing a speech he delivered in Washington on January 6, 2021, shortly before the storming of the US Capitol.
According to the complaint, Trump alleges the edited broadcast falsely portrayed him as encouraging violence by combining excerpts from different parts of his speech aired in a current affairs program. His legal team claims the edit was done “intentionally and deceptively,” causing reputational harm and misleading viewers ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Florida, seeks $5 billion in damages for defamation and another $5 billion under state law related to deceptive and unfair practices. Trump’s lawyers argue that the court has jurisdiction because the broadcaster conducts business activities in the US through digital platforms and streaming services.
The BBC previously acknowledged that the editing of the speech was an error of judgment and issued an apology, while maintaining that the mistake does not amount to defamation. The controversy led to the resignation of senior BBC executives last month amid wider concerns over editorial standards.
Trump has consistently denied responsibility for the January 6 attack and has intensified legal action against major media organizations since returning to office. His supporters argue the lawsuit is part of a broader effort to hold media outlets accountable for what they claim is biased or misleading coverage.
