US President Donald Trump threatened the BBC with a billion-dollar lawsuit Monday as the broadcaster apologised for editing a speech that gave the impression he urged “violent action” ahead of the 2021 assault on the US Capitol.
In a letter seen by AFP, Trump’s lawyers gave the British broadcaster until Friday to fully retract the documentary containing the edit,I apologise and “appropriately compensate” the president “for the harm caused”.
If the BBC does not comply “President Trump will be left with no alternative but to enforce his legal and equitable rights… including by filing legal action for no less than $1,000,000,000 (One Billion Dollars) in damages,” it said.
“The BBC is on notice. PLEASE GOVERN YOURSELF ACCORDINGLY.”
The BBC director general and the organisation’s top news executive resigned Sunday over the row, after accusations that a documentary by the Panorama programme last year featured extracts from a speech by Trump that were edited in a misleading way.
The BBC said that it would “review” the letter from Trump’s legal team. It also issued a public apology for the editing.