The BBC issued an apology to President Trump following the broadcast of an edited version of his January 6, 2021, speech. The broadcast combined two separate segments of his address, which originally occurred nearly an hour apart, into one.
In a letter addressed to Trump, BBC Chair Samir Shah expressed regret for the edited broadcast, acknowledging that it inadvertently gave the impression of a continuous speech. Shah personally apologized for the oversight.
Previously, Trump’s legal team had sent a letter to the BBC demanding an apology and threatening a lawsuit worth $1 billion.
Despite the apology, Trump announced his intention to proceed with legal action against the BBC, suggesting the potential for an even greater claim.
“We’re considering a lawsuit ranging from one to five billion dollars, likely to be filed next week. I feel it’s necessary,” Trump stated to reporters on Air Force One.
“They’ve even admitted to their wrongdoing,” he added.
The legal dispute was sparked by an edition of the BBC’s flagship current affairs series Panorama, titled “Trump: A Second Chance?” broadcast days before the 2024 US presidential election.
A third-party production company spliced together three quotes from two sections of the 2021 speech, into what appeared to be one quote in which Trump urged supporters to march with him and “fight like hell.”
Among the parts cut out was a section where Trump said he wanted supporters to demonstrate peacefully.
Trump earlier declared the BBC was “fake news”, adding that the people of the UK are “very angry” about the edit.
He said he would raise the issue with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“I’m going to call him over the weekend. He actually put a call in to me. He’s very embarrassed,” Trump said.
Director-general Tim Davie, along with news chief Deborah Turness, quit on Sunday, saying the scandal was damaging the BBC and “as the CEO of BBC News and Current Affairs, the buck stops with me.”
