A lawsuit for $10 billion (approximately €8.5 billion) was filed on December 15 in a Florida court. Previously, Trump's representatives had mentioned potential claims ranging from $1 to $5 billion, but the amount was ultimately significantly increased.
The basis for the lawsuit was an episode of the Panorama program, which used an edited fragment of Trump's speech delivered on January 6, 2021. This program aired shortly before the presidential elections in November 2024, when Trump was expected to defeat Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
The lawsuit claims that the BBC presented Trump's words in a distorted light, creating a "false, defamatory, and misleading" image. Trump believes that the media company deliberately interfered in the electoral process to influence its outcome.
It is worth recalling that on January 6, 2021, Trump supporters stormed the Capitol following his speech discussing the results of the 2020 elections. The BBC used segments of the speech in its report, editing them into a single video sequence, which caused Trump's displeasure.
Previously, the BBC acknowledged that the editing could have created a false impression of the integrity of the speech and apologized. However, the company refused to pay any compensation, citing a lack of grounds for a defamation lawsuit.
As noted by international media, this is not Trump's first attempt to sue media groups. He has already initiated legal proceedings against CBS, ABC, and The New York Times, and has been involved in public conflicts with other major media and their owners. Critics view such actions as an attempt to pressure the press, while his supporters see it as a defense against the spread of false information.
