Trump threatens BBC with $1 billion lawsuit over speech edit

WASHINGTON: Donald Trump has threatened the BBC with a $1 billion lawsuit over the editing of a speech he gave just before the 2021 US Capitol riots, a source close to the US president’s legal team told AFP Monday.

The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed a Fox News report that Trump’s letter gave the UK broadcaster a Friday deadline to retract the program and apologize.

A spokesman for Trump’s legal team confirmed that a letter had been sent to the BBC and accused the company of having “defamed” Trump, but did not give further details.

“The BBC defamed President Trump by intentionally and deceitfully editing its documentary in order to try and interfere in the presidential election,” the spokesman said in a statement to AFP.

BBC boss Tim Davie resigns following criticism over Trump documentary edit

“President Trump will continue to hold accountable those who traffic in lies, deception, and fake news.”

The director general of the BBC announced his resignation Sunday over the row, after accusations that a documentary by its flagship Panorama program last year had edited a speech by Trump in a misleading way.

The BBC said earlier Monday it would “review” the letter.

The broadcaster also apologized for editing the speech in a way that gave the impression Republican Trump made “a direct call for violent action” on January 6, 2021.

Trump supporters rioted at the US Capitol on that day in a bid to overturn the certification of his 2020 election defeat by Democrat Joe Biden.