The Trump BBC lawsuit seeks $10bn in damages over an edited documentary linking his 2021 speech to the Capitol riot

United States President Donald Trump on Monday filed a lawsuit seeking at least $10 billion from the British Broadcasting Corporation over an edited documentary clip of his 2021 speech.

Also read: FIFA to Expand VAR Reviews to Corner Kicks at 2026 World Cup

The Trump BBC lawsuit was filed at a federal court in Miami.

The suit seeks damages of not less than $5 billion on each of two counts.

Trump accused the BBC of defamation and violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.

The case centres on a documentary aired last year on Panorama, the BBC’s flagship current affairs programme.

The documentary was broadcast ahead of the 2024 United States presidential election.

It featured an edited version of Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech to supporters in Washington.

The edited footage appeared to show Trump explicitly urging supporters to attack the US Capitol.

At the time, lawmakers were certifying Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election.

Trump, 79, said the BBC had “put words in my mouth”.

He alleged the broadcaster may have used artificial intelligence to manipulate the speech.

In a statement, Trump’s legal team accused the BBC of maliciously doctoring the footage.

The lawyers described the broadcaster as disgraced and politically biased.

They alleged the edit was a deliberate attempt to interfere in the 2024 election.

The BBC, whose audience extends beyond the United Kingdom, has denied legal defamation.

However, BBC chairman Samir Shah sent Trump a letter of apology.

Shah also told a UK parliamentary committee that the broadcaster acted too slowly after discovering the error.

The controversy triggered internal turmoil at the BBC last month.

The broadcaster’s director-general and its top news executive resigned following the scandal.

Trump’s lawsuit alleges the documentary was fabricated and aired one week before the election.

It claims the broadcast damaged Trump’s reputation and electoral prospects.

The Trump BBC lawsuit adds to several legal actions Trump has pursued against media organisations.

Also read: Rooney Warns Maresca After Risky Chelsea Ownership Comments

Some of those cases have resulted in multi-million-dollar settlements.