US President Donald Trump said he felt an “obligation” to take legal action against the BBC over a misleading edit of his 6 January 2021 speech, though he stopped short of confirming any official lawsuit.
In a Fox News interview aired Tuesday, Trump said the broadcaster “defrauded the public” and admitted the error. “I think I have an obligation to do it because you can’t allow people to do that,” he added. The interview was recorded Monday.
Trump’s legal team sent a letter to the BBC on Monday, threatening a potential US$1 billion lawsuit. The warning came after the broadcaster apologised for an edit that appeared to show Trump urging supporters to march to the US Capitol and “fight like hell,” despite the original speech containing intervening statements that praised senators and congress members.
“Britain is supposedly one of our great allies,” Trump said in the interview, referring to the BBC’s status as a publicly funded broadcaster.
The controversy prompted the resignations of BBC Director-General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness on Sunday. BBC Chair Samir Shah issued a public apology on Monday, describing the edit as an “error of judgment” and confirming that the broadcaster would review Trump’s legal letter.
The dispute has drawn public attention in the UK, with a YouGov poll indicating that 57% of Britons believe the BBC should apologise directly to Trump, while 25% opposed such an apology.
The issue comes amid preparations to renegotiate the BBC’s Royal Charter, which governs the corporation’s operations and is set to expire in 2027.
Trump, who returned to political prominence in January, has faced criticism for repeatedly filing lawsuits against US media outlets. The BBC documentary featuring the edited speech aired last year, sparking intense debate over editorial standards and the broadcaster’s independence.
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