The BBC has apologized to former US President Donald Trump for a misleading edit in its “Panorama” documentary but maintained that the issue does not warrant a defamation lawsuit.
Trump has threatened to sue the British broadcaster for $1 billion (approximately €860 million), claiming the documentary misrepresented a speech he gave on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC, just before Congress was set to certify Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.
The program allegedly spliced together two segments of Trump’s speech that were more than 50 minutes apart, creating the false impression that he was inciting the Capitol riot. It also removed portions of the speech where Trump instructed his supporters to demonstrate peacefully.
The controversy has already led to significant leadership changes at the BBC, including the resignations of Director-General Tim Davie and News Chief Executive Deborah Turness, highlighting the fallout from the editorial lapse.
