US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has filed a formal lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation, BBC, claiming defamation due to the editing of his January 6, 2021 speech, which appeared to encourage his supporters to storm the US Capitol Building.
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The lawsuit opens a new chapter in Trump's international fight against the media he believes is unfairly reporting him.
President Trump is seeking $5 billion in damages on each of two counts in the lawsuit. He claims that the BBC, the British public broadcaster, edited out parts of his speech, including one where he once called for his supporters to be taken to the Capitol and another where he said "fight like hell", while omitting a key part where he promised peaceful protests.
However, the BBC has apologized to Trump, admitting a mistake in judgment and admitting that the editing created the incorrect impression that Trump had called for violence. The agency also said there was no legal basis for the case, adding to Trump's challenge.
In addition, the BBC is funded through a mandatory television license for all viewers in the UK, which lawyers say could make any payment to Trump a political issue.
The case is seen as part of Trump's international efforts to protect his reputation and challenge media reports he believes are inaccurate, and could pose a significant legal challenge, as British libel laws differ from those in the US, particularly with regard to the scope of press freedom.