U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against the BBC over edited clips of a speech that allegedly made it appear he directed supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol. The lawsuit opens an international front in Trump’s challenge to media coverage he considers untrue or unfair.
The suit alleges that the BBC defamed Trump and violated a Florida law barring deceptive and unfair trade practices. Trump is seeking damages of $5 billion for each of the lawsuit’s two counts.
The BBC has issued an apology to Trump, admitting an error of judgment and acknowledging that the edited clip gave the mistaken impression that he had made a direct call for violent action. However, the broadcaster has maintained that there is no legal basis for the lawsuit.
