US President Donald Trump has said he will take legal action against the BBC over how his speech was edited by Panorama, after the corporation apologized but refused to compensate him.
Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One on Friday evening, Trump stated: We'll sue them for anywhere between $1bn (£759m) and $5bn, probably sometime next week.
On Thursday, the BBC admitted that the edit of the speech given on January 6, 2021, unintentionally conveyed the wrong impression, suggesting Trump called for violent actions, and announced it would not be aired again.
The BBC issued an apology but stated it would not provide financial compensation, prompting Trump's legal team to consider a substantial lawsuit.
Trump referred to the edit as egregious and claimed the network cheated by changing the wording of his speech. His comments followed a threat from his lawyers to sue BBC unless a retraction and apology were issued along with financial recompense.
No lawsuit has yet been filed as of Friday evening, and the BBC maintains that it strongly disagrees with the basis of any defamation claims.
The edited clip in question has stirred controversy and resulted in resignations within the BBC, with the broadcaster reaffirming its stance that it doesn’t believe the edit was malicious nor that it caused harm to Trump.
Legal experts now anticipate a challenging period ahead for both Trump and the BBC as they navigate this high-stakes confrontation, drawing attention to broader discussions surrounding the freedoms and responsibilities of media outlets.
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