President Trump declared he has “an obligation” to sue the BBC over a misleading Panorama documentary edit, vowing legal action after the broadcaster’s apology failed to include compensation.
In a November 11, 2025, Fox News interview with Laura Ingraham, Trump said, “I have an obligation to sue the BBC because they defrauded the public with that fake edit,” framing the case as a stand against “fake news.”
His lawyer demanded a retraction, public apology, and $1 billion in damages by November 14; the BBC apologized and pulled the program but refused payment.
The dispute centers on the October 28, 2024, BBC documentary Trump: A Second Chance?, which aired days before the election and edited Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech to omit context, making “fight like hell” appear as incitement. A leaked internal memo called it an “error of judgment,” triggering resignations of Director-General Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness on November 9.
No lawsuit has been filed as of Friday, but Trump signals readiness to proceed in Florida state court, citing “actual malice.” The case fits his pattern of media suits, with over $80 million in prior settlements directed to his presidential library. Legal experts note jurisdiction and malice hurdles, while the BBC defends its journalism amid UK funding debates.