Trump sues BBC for $10 billion over edited January 6 speech
JournalismPakistan.com | Published 4 hours ago | JP Global Monitoring Desk
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President Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC over allegedly deceptive edits of his January 6 speech that falsely implied he incited violence.Summary
MIAMI — President Donald Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on December 15, 2025, in a federal court in Miami. Trump alleges the BBC deceptively edited his January 6, 2021, speech to suggest he incited violence at the United States Capitol.
Trump claims the BBC’s Panorama documentary spliced separate portions of his speech to create a misleading impression, omitting segments where he urged supporters to protest peacefully. The complaint includes claims under Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act as well as a count of defamation, and seeks $5 billion in damages for each count.
Allegations and BBC response
Trump’s legal team argues that the BBC broadcast a “false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious depiction” of him in the 2024 Panorama episode, accusing the broadcaster of attempting to influence the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The lawsuit asserts the edits were intentional and harmed his reputation, despite an apology from the BBC.
Controversy and broader context
The BBC acknowledged an “error of judgment” in editing the footage and apologized, but stated there is no basis for a defamation claim and has pledged to defend against the lawsuit. The editing controversy previously prompted the resignations of the BBC director general and news chief. Trump’s case adds to his broader pattern of litigation against major media outlets over their coverage of him, including suits against U.S. news organizations.
KEY POINTS:
- Trump filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC in federal court in Miami
- The complaint centers on alleged deceptive edits to his January 6, 2021, speech in a BBC Panorama documentary
- Trump claims the edits falsely suggested he incited violence and harmed his reputation
- The lawsuit includes claims under Florida’s deceptive trade practices law in addition to defamation
- The BBC apologized for the edits but denies legal liability and plans to contest the case
- The dispute reflects broader tensions between Trump and media organizations
ATTRIBUTION: Reporting is based on verified information from Reuters, Associated Press, and related credible sources.
