Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to sue the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) for up to $5 billion, alleging defamation over an edited documentary segment he claims falsely depicted him inciting violence before the 2021 Capitol riot.
Trump stated on Air Force One on Friday that he would file the lawsuit within the coming week. This follows a BBC apology issued last year for editing errors in a documentary.
Despite the apology, the BBC has maintained it will not pay any damages. The broadcaster stated the documentary had created a “misunderstanding” that Trump incited violence.
Trump’s legal action centers on the accusation that the documentary distorted his speech delivered prior to the January 6, 2021, events at the U.S. Capitol. He claims the editing made it seem he was calling for violence.
Earlier, on Monday, Trump sent a legal letter to the BBC. This letter accused the edited content of defamation and demanded an apology and compensation by the end of that week.
Trump also stated his intention to discuss the matter with UK Labour Party leader Keir Starmer.
The controversy surrounding the video editing has already led to significant internal upheaval at the BBC. Both the Director-General and senior news executives resigned under pressure related to the incident.