The lawsuit, filed on Monday in federal court in Miami, Florida, argues that the BBC manipulated footage of Trump's remarks in its flagship current affairs programme Panorama, which broadcast the segment in the run‑up to the November 2024 vote. Trump's legal team says the edits made it appear he urged supporters to march on the U.S. Capitol and 'fight like hell,' while omitting key portions in which he called for peaceful protest.
Trump is seeking $5 billion in damages for defamation and an additional $5 billion for alleged violations of Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act bringing the total to $10 billion. The complaint accuses the BBC of publishing a 'false, defamatory… and malicious depiction of President Trump' that could have influenced public perception during the election cycle.
In recent weeks, the BBC acknowledged that the documentary clips were edited in a way that gave the wrong impression, with BBC Chairman Samir Shah calling the episode an 'error of judgment.' However, the corporation has rejected the defamation claims and said it believes there is no legal basis for the lawsuit, even as its leadership faced intense scrutiny.
The controversy triggered significant leadership changes at the broadcaster. Both the BBC's Director‑General Tim Davie and the head of BBC News, Deborah Turness, resigned following the revelations of editorial mishandling and internal criticism.
This legal action is part of a broader pattern of Trump's disputes with major media outlets. Over the past year, he has taken legal action against several U.S. news organisations, including The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, over what he says are defamatory portrayals, though such cases often face significant legal hurdles.
Rania Umutoni
Source : https://en.igihe.com/news/article/trump-sues-bbc-for-10-billion-over-defamation
