Former US President Donald Trump has declared his intention to sue the BBC over its handling of a section of his January 6, 2021 speech, which was featured in a Panorama documentary. Speaking for the first time publicly about the issue since his legal team sent a formal letter to the broadcaster, Trump told Fox News that the BBC had “butchered” his speech and “defrauded” viewers by presenting his remarks in a misleading way.
The controversy centers on how the BBC edited portions of Trump’s speech given on the day of the Capitol riot. According to Trump, the original speech was “a beautiful speech,” intended to be calming, but the BBC’s edit distorted its tone and meaning, making it sound radical and inflammatory. He emphasized that the corporation had “actually changed” his words, which he described as “rather incredible.” When asked if he would proceed with legal action, Trump said he felt an obligation to do so to prevent such manipulation from happening again.
Trump’s lawyers sent the BBC a letter on Sunday demanding a “full and fair retraction” of the Panorama documentary, an apology, and substantial financial compensation for the damage caused. The letter sets a deadline for the BBC to respond by 22:00 GMT on Friday. A BBC spokesperson confirmed that the corporation is reviewing the letter and will respond “in due course.” BBC chair Samir Shah has previously apologized for what he described as an “error of judgement” in how the footage was edited.
The controversy emerged into public view following the publication of a leaked internal BBC memo by the Daily Telegraph. The memo was authored by a former independent external adviser to the BBC’s editorial standards committee, Michael Prescott, who raised serious concerns about the documentary’s editing choices. It highlighted that the speech had been spliced in a way that suggested Trump explicitly encouraged the violent storming of the Capitol, a claim critics argue was not supported by the actual words he used.
In reality, Trump said during his speech, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol, and we’re going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women.” However, the Panorama documentary edited together two parts of the speech, which were more than 50 minutes apart, to create a misleading impression. The edited version showed Trump saying, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol... and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.” This juxtaposition conveyed a more aggressive tone than the original speech.
The fallout from this issue has been significant within the BBC. Both the director general, Tim Davie, and the head of news, Deborah Turness, have resigned amid mounting criticism. Despite these leadership changes, both Davie and Shah have defended the corporation, pushing back against accusations that the incident reflects wider problems with BBC impartiality. Speaking at an internal all-staff meeting, Davie acknowledged mistakes but urged staff to continue their work, stating, “We have made some mistakes that have cost us, but we need to fight.” He added that the BBC’s quality of work would ultimately speak louder than any external criticism or attacks.
Notably, neither Davie nor Shah addressed Trump’s legal threats during their remarks to staff, focusing instead on the broader challenges facing the broadcaster. Meanwhile, the UK government has declined to comment on the ongoing legal dispute, emphasizing that it is a matter for the BBC. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated, “It is clearly not for the government to comment on any ongoing legal matters.”
This dispute comes at a delicate time for the BBC, which is preparing for the renewal of its royal charter—the legal framework that governs the corporation’s funding and governance. The current charter is set to expire at the end of 2027, and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has been tasked with overseeing negotiations for its renewal. Speaking in the House of Commons, Nandy emphasized the importance of updating the BBC’s mission to reflect the modern age and ensuring that it remains a “genuinely accountable” institution. She warned against sustained attacks on the BBC as an institution, highlighting its unique status as a national broadcaster that belongs to the public.
The culture select committee is expected to hold hearings in the coming weeks involving key BBC figures, including chair Samir Shah and board members Sir Robbie Gibb and Caroline Thomson. Michael Prescott, the former editorial standards adviser who wrote the leaked memo, is also expected to be invited to give evidence.
Beyond the immediate legal dispute with Trump,