President Donald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for $1 billion over the editing of a speech he delivered shortly before the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riots, a source close to the US president’s legal team told AFP on Monday.
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed a Fox News report that Trump’s letter gave the UK broadcaster until Friday to retract the program and issue a public apology.
A spokesman for Trump’s legal team also confirmed that a letter had been sent to the BBC, accusing the broadcaster of having “defamed” Trump but declined to provide further details.
“The BBC defamed President Trump by intentionally and deceitfully editing its documentary in order to try and interfere in the presidential election,” the spokesman said in a statement to AFP.
“President Trump will continue to hold accountable those who traffic in lies, deception, and fake news.”
The BBC’s Director-General announced his resignation on Sunday following backlash over claims that its flagship Panorama documentary had edited Trump’s speech in a misleading way.
The BBC said earlier on Monday that it would “review” the letter from Trump’s legal team.
The broadcaster also apologized for editing the footage in a way that suggested the former president made “a direct call for violent action” on January 6, 2021.
Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol on that day in an attempt to halt the certification of his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden.
