LONDON, United Kingdom — The BBC has formally apologized to Donald Trump after editing a speech in a way that made it appear he had advocated violence.
The apology, issued on Thursday, comes as the broadcaster seeks to avoid a potential legal battle with the former U.S. president, who had threatened a lawsuit worth $1 billion.
In a statement, the BBC said its chair, Samir Shah, sent a personal letter to the White House expressing regret for the edit. The broadcaster also confirmed it has no plans to rebroadcast the Panorama documentary that sparked the controversy.
“While the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited, we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim,” the statement read.
The controversy erupted after internal accusations of bias at the BBC were leaked, revealing the edited 2021 speech by Trump—the very day his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. The fallout led to the resignation of the broadcaster’s top two leaders and a threatened $1 billion lawsuit from Trump’s team.
Trump’s lawyers demanded that the BBC withdraw the Panorama program, apologize publicly, and compensate him for damages—or face legal action.
The case puts the BBC in a difficult position, with critics highlighting that any settlement could require using viewer licence fee payments to cover the error, just as the corporation faces growing scrutiny and declining support.
This incident has sent shockwaves through both the UK media and political landscape, raising questions about journalistic responsibility, accuracy, and accountability at one of the world’s most respected broadcasters.
