The BBC has apologised to US President Donald Trump for an edited clip used in a 2024 documentary but insists there is no legal basis for a defamation lawsuit. The documentary aired on the BBC programme “Panorama” shortly before the US presidential election. It featured three spliced parts of Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech, creating the impression that he encouraged violence during the Capitol attack.
In a statement, the public broadcaster said it “sincerely regrets” the editing choice but strongly disputes the claim that the documentary defamed the US president.
Trump’s lawyers had threatened legal action on Sunday, demanding up to $1 billion in damages unless the BBC withdrew the documentary, issued a formal apology, and compensated him for alleged financial and reputational losses.
The broadcaster responded by stating that Trump’s defamation case lacks merit, indirectly dismissing his financial demands as well. However, it did not address the compensation issue directly. Instead, the focus remained on the editing error and the organisation’s internal review process.
According to the statement, BBC Chair Samir Shah sent a personal letter to the White House on Thursday. The letter expressed regret and acknowledged that the editing was a mistake. Earlier in the week, Shah apologised to a UK parliamentary oversight committee and described the edit as “an error of judgement.”
The broadcaster also confirmed that it has no plans to rebroadcast the documentary on any of its platforms. Meanwhile, fresh scrutiny has emerged after The Telegraph newspaper published new allegations involving another programme, “Newsnight,” which also edited the same Trump speech.
The situation has triggered one of the BBC’s biggest internal crises in decades. Two senior executives have resigned following accusations of bias linked to the handling of Trump’s speech. The controversy erupted after a leaked internal report by a BBC standards official revealed concerns over editorial decisions.
Founded in 1922 and funded mainly through a licence fee paid by UK households, the BBC now faces questions about its future leadership. The government is currently reviewing how the broadcaster should be funded going forward.
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Despite the turmoil, Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed on Wednesday that he supports a “strong and independent” BBC, describing it as a crucial pillar of the United Kingdom’s global influence.
