US President Donald Trump has threatened to take legal action against the BBC, demanding $1 billion in damages over what he calls a “false and defamatory” portrayal of his remarks during the January 6 Capitol riot in a Panorama documentary.
In a letter sent to the BBC, Trump’s legal team ordered the broadcaster to “immediately retract” the programme by November 14, 2025, or face legal action.
The letter, seen by multiple US media outlets including The New York Times and Fox News, accuses the BBC of editing Trump’s 2021 speech in a way that appeared to incite the Capitol Hill riots.
Trump’s lawyers listed three demands: a full and public retraction of the documentary, an official apology for defamatory statements, and appropriate compensation for reputational harm.
“If the BBC does not comply by November 14 at 5pm EST, President Trump will be left with no alternative but to enforce his legal and equitable rights,” the letter reads.
The controversy stems from a 2024 Panorama documentary which combined two parts of Trump’s January 6 speech—delivered more than 50 minutes apart—making it appear as one continuous statement.
The programme also followed the edited clip with footage of the far-right Proud Boys group marching toward the Capitol, although that footage was filmed before Trump began speaking.
In a statement on Monday, BBC Chair Samir Shah admitted the edit created “an impression of a direct call for violent action,” calling it an “error of judgement.”
He said the corporation was reviewing the issue and “considering how to respond” to Trump’s legal threat.
BBC Director General Tim Davie and CEO of News Deborah Turness resigned on Sunday night following the fallout, hours after a leaked memo by former BBC adviser Michael Prescott criticized the documentary’s editorial process.
Prescott’s memo argued the edited sequence “wrongly suggested Trump explicitly encouraged the Capitol riots.”
The BBC has since apologized, acknowledging the sequence “gave the impression” of an incitement but insisting there was no deliberate attempt to mislead viewers.
“The full speech lasted over an hour,” the broadcaster said, “and our aim was to convey its key themes in a condensed format.”
The BBC also denied claims that it removed the word “peacefully” from Trump’s remarks, saying, “To be clear, we did not do so.”
Trump, known for his frequent battles with media outlets, has launched or threatened multiple lawsuits against major networks.
In July, he secured a $16 million settlement from CBS News and Paramount over an allegedly deceptive interview edit involving then–Vice President Kamala Harris.
That same month, he filed a $10 billion suit against The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch, claiming defamation over reports linking him to Jeffrey Epstein—an action still pending.
The BBC has not yet issued a formal public response to the $1 billion demand.