United States President Donald Trump has signaled he intends to sue the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for up to $5 billion, escalating a transatlantic media firestorm after the broadcaster admitted to editing a video of his January 6, 2021 speech. Although the BBC has apologised for what it called an “error of judgement”, the network maintains that Trump has no legal grounds for such a lawsuit.

Trump Accuses BBC of ‘Cheating’ and Causing Massive Harm

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One late Friday, Trump said he plans to take the BBC to court as early as next week.

“We will sue them for anywhere between a billion and five billion dollars,”
“They have even admitted that they cheated.”

Trump’s legal team had already sent a letter demanding a public apology and compensation, arguing that the edited footage resulted in “overwhelming reputational and financial harm.”

Controversial Edit Sparks BBC Crisis

The controversy centers on a segment aired on the BBC’s flagship Panorama program. Producers stitched together three separate clips of Trump’s speech from January 6 — the day his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. Trump’s lawyers argue the sequence made it appear as though he was inciting the riot, calling it “false, misleading, and defamatory.”

The fallout has been enormous for the British broadcaster. Two top executives — Director General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness — resigned amid accusations of political bias and editorial malpractice. It is widely regarded as the BBC’s most severe credibility crisis in decades.

Trump Calls BBC ‘Fake News’ and Accuses It of Election Interference

In an interview with GB News, Trump blasted the BBC for what he described as intentional manipulation.

“I made a beautiful statement, and they made it into a not beautiful statement,”
“Fake news isn’t strong enough. This is beyond fake — this is corrupt.”

He accused the broadcaster of orchestrating a deceptive narrative by combining remarks delivered almost an hour apart.

Trump also claimed that the British public was “very angry” with the BBC and called the edit “election interference.” He said he intends to raise the issue directly with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

“I’m going to call him over the weekend… He’s very embarrassed.”

Starmer has declined to side with Trump, emphasizing the importance of protecting the BBC’s independence even amid controversy.

BBC Issues Apology but Rejects Defamation Claims

BBC chair Samir Shah issued a personal apology to the White House, acknowledging an “error of judgement.” However, the broadcaster’s legal position remains firm: the edited video, while flawed, does not meet the legal threshold for defamation.

UK Culture Minister Lisa Nandy said the apology was “right and necessary,” but critics argue the damage to the BBC’s reputation will take far longer to repair.

Political Repercussions and Media Scrutiny Intensify

Trump’s threats come as scrutiny grows over media coverage of the January 6 Capitol attack and broader concerns about misinformation, editorial transparency, and partisan editing practices.

The situation has also drawn sharp responses from Trump supporters and conservative commentators, who say the BBC’s handling of the footage confirms long-held claims of anti-Trump bias in major Western media outlets.

The BBC, meanwhile, faces not only the risk of legal pressure from Washington but also intensifying domestic demands for reform.