US President Donald Trump says he feels a “duty” to sue a British broadcaster for editing his 6 January 2021 speech in a recent documentary. Speaking to Fox News, he accused the producers of having “butchered” his words and “deceived” viewers. This marks his first public comment since his lawyers demanded $1 billion in damages unless the organisation retracts the programme, apologises, and compensates him.
Trump accuses editors of distorting his words
During an interview on The Ingraham Angle, Trump confirmed his intention to move forward with the lawsuit. “Well, I guess I have to,” he said. “They deceived the public, and they’ve admitted it.” He described his speech as “a beautiful, calming address” and said the edit made it sound extreme. “They actually changed it,” he said. “What they did was unbelievable.”
When asked again about the case, Trump replied, “I think I have an obligation to do it. You can’t allow people to do that.” The interview was recorded Monday, though Fox News only released the relevant section on Tuesday evening in the US.
Letter demands apology and compensation
Trump’s legal team sent a letter to the organisation on Sunday. It demanded a complete retraction of the documentary, a public apology, and financial compensation for alleged harm. The letter set a response deadline of 22:00 GMT on Friday. The broadcaster said it will reply in due course, while its news division declined to comment on Trump’s remarks.
A pattern of media confrontations
Trump has a long history of clashing with major media outlets. Since returning to the White House, he has pursued legal claims against several networks. He previously reached settlements with CBS News and ABC News and has also taken steps toward suing The New York Times.
The controversy over the edited broadcast
The disputed edit appeared in a Panorama documentary that aired shortly before the US presidential election in November 2024. It drew little notice until The Daily Telegraph published a leaked internal memo last week. The memo, written by a former adviser to the broadcaster’s editorial standards committee, warned that the edit could imply Trump had encouraged the Capitol riot on 6 January 2021.
Trump originally said: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol, and we’re going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women.” In the edited version, two parts of the speech—spoken more than 50 minutes apart—were joined together. The documentary showed him saying: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol… and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.”
Leadership crisis and resignations
The fallout led to the resignation of director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness. Both defended their work and insisted the organisation remains committed to fair reporting. In a staff meeting, Davie admitted “mistakes were made” but urged employees to “fight for our integrity.” He added: “This narrative won’t just be told by our critics—it’s our story too.”
Davie said the organisation had endured “difficult times” but continued to “produce good journalism that speaks louder than any newspaper or political attack.” Neither he nor the chair mentioned Trump’s legal threat during the meeting.
Government stays neutral
Downing Street said the dispute is a matter for the broadcaster. “It’s not for the government to comment on ongoing legal matters,” the prime minister’s spokesperson stated.
A delicate moment for the national broadcaster
The legal row comes as the organisation faces renewal of its royal charter, which governs its structure and funding, due to expire at the end of 2027. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy will oversee the talks. She told Parliament the process would “renew its mission for the modern age” and create a “genuinely accountable” broadcaster.
Nandy said: “There’s a clear difference between raising concerns about editorial mistakes and attacking the institution itself. This broadcaster is not just a media outlet—it’s a national institution that belongs to everyone.”
Parliament to hear from top executives
The culture select committee plans to question senior figures including chair Samir Shah and board members Sir Robbie Gibb and Caroline Thomson. Michael Prescott, the former adviser who wrote the leaked memo, will also be called to testify.
Reform UK ends cooperation over dispute
Meanwhile, an internal Reform UK email confirmed the party has withdrawn from a documentary about its rise. The message said the production team had received “unprecedented access” to senior party figures but must now revoke permission for any footage to be used, citing the ongoing Trump controversy.
