US President Donald Trump has filed a blockbuster defamation lawsuit against the BBC, seeking between $5 billion and $10 billion in damages.

The suit accuses the British broadcaster of “intentionally, maliciously, and deceptively” editing his January 6, 2021, Ellipse speech in a Panorama documentary to falsely portray him as inciting violence ahead of the Capitol riot.

The complaint, lodged in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleges that the BBC spliced together non-consecutive remarks delivered more than 50 minutes apart, combining “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol…” with “…we fight like hell” while omitting Trump’s call to protest “peacefully and patriotically.” The edited clip aired in the 2024 Panorama episode “Trump: A Second Chance?” just a week before the US election.

Trump’s legal team argues the edit amounted to a “brazen attempt to interfere” in the election and violated Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. They claim jurisdiction exists because US viewers could access the program via VPNs, BritBox, or third-party distributors, despite BBC platforms geo-blocking content outside the UK.

The controversy erupted after a leaked internal BBC memo criticized the edit as an “error of judgement.” The fallout prompted the resignations of Director-General Tim Davie and News Chief Deborah Turness in November 2025. The BBC later apologized, admitting the clip gave a “mistaken impression” of a direct call for violent action, but rejected compensation demands, insisting there was no malice, no US harm (Trump won re-election), and no distribution rights in America.

Trump, who had threatened legal action last month, told reporters: “I think I have to do it. They cheated… changed words coming out of my mouth.” Sources differ on damages sought: some cite $5 billion total, others $5 billion per count (defamation plus trade practices).

Legal experts note Trump faces significant hurdles. Under US law, public figures must prove “actual malice” to win defamation cases. He must also establish US publication and jurisdiction, while sidestepping the UK’s one-year statute of limitations—likely why the case was filed in Florida.

The BBC has not commented on the new filing but previously defended the edit as a routine shortening of a lengthy speech without intent to mislead.

The lawsuit marks Trump’s latest battle with major media outlets. He previously secured settlements with CBS ($16 million) and ABC over alleged deceptive editing. Informed observers say the case could test the boundaries of cross-border defamation claims, media accountability, and the intersection of politics and journalism in the digital age.