Trump files $100 billion defamation lawsuit against BBC

US President Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against the UK’s state broadcaster BBC, seeking $100 billion in damages. The case was filed on Monday at a federal court in Miami, Florida.

According to the complaint, the BBC broadcast an edited video clip of a speech delivered by Trump on January 6, 2021, in a way that suggested he directly instructed his supporters to attack the US Capitol. Trump claims the broadcast damaged his reputation.

Trump alleged that the BBC stitched together different parts of his speech. In the video, he is seen urging supporters to march towards the Capitol while also saying “fight with all your strength”. However, he had also called for peaceful protest in the same speech, which was allegedly removed during editing.

The lawsuit includes two counts. One alleges defamation, while the other claims a violation of a Florida law prohibiting deceptive and unfair commercial practices. Trump is seeking $50 billion in damages for each count, totalling $100 billion.

The BBC has already apologised to Trump and acknowledged an editorial error, saying the mistake created the impression that Trump had directly called for violence. However, the broadcaster has also said there is no legal basis for the lawsuit.

Trump said that despite the apology, the BBC has shown no genuine remorse and has taken no effective steps to prevent similar journalistic errors in the future.

The BBC is primarily funded by a mandatory licence fee paid by television viewers. UK legal experts believe that any compensation payout could become politically sensitive.

Meanwhile, Trump’s legal team said the BBC has a long history of misleading its audiences when reporting on Trump, which they claim is part of a political agenda.

A BBC spokesperson told Reuters that no new communication has been received from Trump’s lawyers so far and that its position remains unchanged. The broadcaster has not issued any further official response since news of the lawsuit emerged.