US President Donald Trump has said he feels an “obligation” to sue the BBC over a misleadingly edited version of his speech, though he stopped short of confirming formal legal action.
Trump’s lawyers sent a legal notice to the British broadcaster on Monday, threatening a billion-dollar lawsuit.
The BBC has since apologized for creating the impression that Trump had urged “violent action” ahead of the 2021 assault on the US Capitol.
In his interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, recorded on Monday, Trump was asked if he planned to sue the BBC.
In his first public remarks on the controversy, President Trump said, “I guess I have to, why not? I think I have an obligation to do it because you can’t allow people to do that,” though he did not confirm whether a defamation case had been formally filed.
“They defrauded the public and they've admitted it,” he added.
Commenting on the BBC’s links to the UK government, Trump said, “Britain is supposedly one of our great allies, and the government has a chunk of that one.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government has maintained a cautious stance, seeking to support the BBC’s editorial independence while avoiding the appearance of siding against Trump.
The controversy has already led to the resignation of the BBC’s director general and its top news executive. The broadcaster said it would “review” the letter from Trump’s legal team and has publicly apologised for the editing error.
The issue comes at a politically sensitive time for the BBC, which is preparing to renegotiate its Royal Charter — the document governing its operations — set to expire in 2027.
Trump, who returned to power in January, has been accused of using lawsuits to silence critical voices in the US media.
The disputed BBC documentary aired last year. It featured an edited clip that appeared to show Trump telling supporters he would march to the Capitol and “fight like hell.” However, the original version also included him saying, “We’re going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women.”