The president of the United States, Donald Trump, has threatened to sue the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for $1 billion over what he described as the “defamatory” and “malicious” editing of a speech he delivered shortly before the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots.
Trump’s legal team issued the British broadcaster a Friday deadline to retract the documentary containing the alleged edited version, issue a public apology, and “appropriately compensate” the president for the damage caused.
“If the BBC fails to comply, President Trump will be left with no alternative but to enforce his legal and equitable rights… including by filing legal action for no less than $1,000,000,000 (One Billion Dollars) in damages,” the letter stated.
“The BBC is on notice. Please govern yourself accordingly,” it added.
LEADERSHIP earlier reported that the BBC’s Director-General, Tim Davie, and CEO, Deborah Turness, resigned on Sunday following widespread criticism over the controversial documentary involving Trump.
In response, the BBC said Monday it would “review” the letter from Trump’s legal team and also issued a public apology for the editing in question.
Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to halt the certification of his 2020 election defeat to Democrat Joe Biden.
However, Trump’s lawyers argued that the BBC’s edit gave a “false, defamatory, malicious, disparaging, and inflammatory” impression of what Trump actually said during his speech outside the White House.
“Due to their salacious nature, the fabricated statements that were aired by the BBC have been widely disseminated throughout various digital mediums, which have reached tens of millions of people worldwide,” the letter read.
“Consequently, the BBC has caused President Trump to suffer overwhelming financial and reputational harm,” it added.
A spokesman for Trump’s legal team confirmed to AFP that a letter had indeed been sent to the BBC but declined to provide additional details.
“The BBC defamed President Trump by intentionally and deceitfully editing its documentary in order to try and interfere in the presidential election,” the spokesman said in a statement to AFP. “President Trump will continue to hold accountable those who traffic in lies, deception, and fake news.”
Trump has been accused of previously filed multiple lawsuits against major US media organisations, including ABC, CBS, and The New York Times, accusing them of spreading false information about him.
