By Gloria Nosa
The BBC has issued a formal apology to U.S. President Donald Trump after he threatened to file a $1 billion lawsuit over what he described as a misleading edit of his January 6 speech in a Panorama documentary.
Trump demanded a full retraction, a public apology, and compensation, arguing that the programme made it appear as though he encouraged violence ahead of the Capitol riot. The broadcaster had been given a deadline to respond to the legal threat, with critics accusing the episode of misleading viewers.
In a statement released on Friday, the BBC admitted the edit was an “error of judgment” and confirmed that the programme would not be aired again in its current form. However, the corporation stressed that it does not believe the error amounts to defamation.
The episode, Trump: A Second Chance?, has since been removed from the BBC website, and a retraction note was published acknowledging the inaccurate impression created. The broadcaster clarified that the edited sequence combined excerpts from different parts of Trump’s speech, unintentionally making it appear as one continuous clip and giving the false impression that Trump issued a direct call for violence.
Reacting earlier in the week, Trump insisted he felt “obligated” to sue, saying the BBC had “defrauded the public” and “admitted it.” He criticised the broadcaster for altering what he called a “beautiful” and “calming” address, describing the edit as “dishonest.”
The controversy has already led to internal fallout at the BBC, with Director-General Tim Davie and News Chief Executive Deborah Turness resigning amid the backlash. BBC Chairman Samir Shah also issued an apology, calling the edit a serious lapse in editorial judgment.
The White House weighed in as well, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt labeling the BBC a “leftist propaganda machine” and noting that legal action is likely to continue despite the apology.
