The BBC is awaiting Donald Trump’s response after apologising to the US president – but refusing his request for compensation.
The corporation admitted on Thursday that it made an “error of judgment” in broadcasting a Panorama episode with an edited speech by the American leader. It said it would not broadcast the episode in any form again and that chairman Samir Shah has sent a personal letter to the White House to apologise for the editing of the speech.
However, the BBC rejected Trump’s demand for $1 billion in their apology, with the US president yet to respond.
A spokesperson for the broadcaster said: “While the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited, we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim.”
The US president had threatened to sue the corporation for $1 billion, giving it until Friday to issue a retraction, apologise and compensate him “for the harm caused”.
BBC director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness resigned over the edit, which has been accused of making Trump appear to directly encourage the storming of the US Capitol by his supporters later that day.
BBC licence fee ‘criminalises people who want to watch television’, Nadine Dorries says
How should the BBC adapt to Trump, scandals and changing audiences? Join The Independent Debate
The BBC should stand up to Trump’s $1bn legal demand – it would probably win in court
Every time Trump has sued the media after he threatens $1 billion BBC legal action
Key Points
- BBC awaiting a response from Trump after apology
- Broadcaster declines US president's request for compensation
- BBC chairman sends personal letter of apology to White House
- Corporation faces fresh allegations over Trump speech edit on Newsnight
Watch: Nadine Dorries says BBC licence fee 'criminalises people who want to watch television'
14:01 , Tara CobhamComment: The BBC should stand up to Trump’s $1bn legal demand – it would probably win in court
13:30 , Tara CobhamAs a lawyer, I have seen my fair share of ambitious lawsuits. But even by those standards, Donald Trump’s threat to sue the BBC for $1bn (£760m) – over its edited broadcast of his January 6 speech – is a spectacular legal misadventure. From where I sit, it looks less like a fight for justice and more like a public relations gambit that could backfire badly on him.
There are a few legal tripwires between Trump and any conceivable victory against the BBC. For a start, the limitation period for any UK defamation claim has lapsed: the US president had one year from the broadcast date of 28 October 2024, meaning the deadline expired on 28 October 2025 – about two weeks ago. However, a claim in Florida would still be within time, since the limitation period there is two years, but less likely to succeed.
Trump’s problem is that the edition of Panorama wasn’t broadcast in the United States, and BBC iPlayer isn’t available there either, so no one in that jurisdiction would have watched it there on catch-up. That means it is not clear that any US court could entertain the claim. Setting aside that technicality, even if the case somehow got off the ground, the legal and evidential hurdles facing Trump remain formidable.
Lawyer Mark Stephens writes:
The BBC should stand up to Trump’s $1bn legal demand – it would probably win in court
Hundreds of complaints made since publication of Prescott memo, Shah says
13:00 , Tara CobhamThere had been more than 500 complaints since the publication of the Michael Prescott memo, which raised concerns about the Panorama episode, according to BBC board chairman Samir Shah.
A report from Mr Prescott, a former external adviser to the BBC’s editorial standards committee, raised concerns that a speech made by Donald Trump before the attack on the US Capitol had been selectively edited by the BBC.
Mr Shah said: “We accept that the way the speech was edited did give the impression of a direct call for violent action.”
Panorama scandal has seen two of BBC's most senior executives quit
12:44 , Tara CobhamThe Panorama scandal has seen two of the BBC’s most senior executives, director-general Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness, quit in response on Sunday.
In his resignation statement, Mr Davie accepted that “there have been some mistakes” during his time in the role and emphasised that his choice to leave was “entirely my decision”.
He also paid tribute to the organisation, which he said is of “unique value and speaks to the very best of us” – but accepted the broadcaster is “not perfect and must always be open, transparent and accountable”.
Ms Turness also accepted mistakes had been made, but said she is “absolutely clear [that] recent allegations that BBC News is institutionally biased are wrong”.
Every time Trump has sued the media after he threatens $1 billion BBC legal action
12:29 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has threatened to sue the British Broadcasting Corporation after it aired an edited version of a speech he gave ahead of the 2021 Capitol Riots.
The edited speech was included in part of a Panorama episode, prompting Trump’s lawyers to demanded that the BBC remove the documentary before apologizing and compensating him appropriately.”
The letter from the sitting president’s lawyers claims that failure to comply with his demands will lead to the broadcaster being slapped with a lawsuit of “no less” than $1 billion (£760 million).
However, this is far from the first time that Trump has threatened a media company with legal action over perceived damages to his reputation.
Read more here:
Every time Trump has sued the media after he threatens $1 billion BBC legal action
BBC also 'looking into' Newsnight clip after fresh claims over Trump speech emerged
12:00 , Tara CobhamThe BBC have said a Newsnight interview which appears to have spliced together parts of a Donald Trump speech from January 6 2021 has been “brought to our attention” and confirmed that they are “looking into it.”
The Newsnight clip, broadcast on June 9 2022 showed Mr Trump appearing to say: “We’re gonna walk down to the Capitol and we’re gonna cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women – and we fight. We fight like hell and if you don’t fight like hell you aren’t gonna have a country any more.”
The footage was broadcast more than two years before the same speech was edited in a Panorama programme in October 2024, for which the BBC have since apologised for.
A whistleblower told the Telegraph’s podcast that concerns about the Newsnight footage were raised during an editorial meeting the following morning, but were dismissed.
Footage from the 2022 episode also appeared to show a former White House chief of staff criticising the BBC on air for “splicing” the footage.
The BBC's statement on its apology to Trump
11:42 , Tara CobhamA BBC spokesperson said: “Lawyers for the BBC have written to President Trump’s legal team in response to a letter received on Sunday.
“BBC chair Samir Shah has separately sent a personal letter to the White House making clear to President Trump that he and the corporation are sorry for the edit of the president’s speech on 6 January 2021, which featured in the programme.
“The BBC has no plans to rebroadcast the documentary Trump: A Second Chance? on any BBC platforms.
“While the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited, we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim.”
Lib Dems urge Starmer to tell Trump to drop 'ludicrous' $1bn threat
11:23 , Tara CobhamThe Liberal Democrats have urged the Prime Minister to tell Donald Trump to drop his “ludicrous” threat to sue the BBC for $1 billion.
In a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and culture spokeswoman Anna Sabine said: “We are writing to urge you to pick up the phone to President Trump and tell him to drop his threat of a ludicrous one billion US dollar lawsuit against the BBC, before his deadline of 10pm tomorrow.”
They said it was “clear that President Trump is trying to destroy the BBC”, which they said was “part of his broader assault on the free press”.
The pair added: “Trump’s attacks on the BBC go well beyond the mistakes over last year’s Panorama broadcast – for which the BBC chair has rightly apologised.
“President Trump has smeared BBC journalists as ‘corrupt’, while his White House press secretary described the BBC as ‘100% fake news’ and urged everyone to watch GB News.
“The Government must stand up for Britain, stand up for the free press, protect licence fee payers and defend the impartiality and independence of the BBC.”
They also said Sir Keir should tell Mr Trump there was “no chance of him getting a single penny of licence fee payers’ money”.
Full story: BBC awaits response from Donald Trump after apologising for Panorama speech edit
11:04 , Tara CobhamThe BBC is awaiting a response from Donald Trump, after the corporation apologised for the editing of a speech by the US president which appeared on Panorama in 2024.
The corporation said the splicing of the speech was an “error of judgment” but rejected his demands for compensation, after Mr Trump’s lawyers threatened to sue the BBC for one billion dollars in damages unless a retraction and apology was published.
Earlier in the week Mr Trump said in an interview with Fox News that the BBC had “defrauded the public” over the edit, which made it appear as if he was explicitly urging people to attack the US Capitol on January 6 2021.
Read more here:
BBC awaits response from Donald Trump after apologising for Panorama speech edit
Watch: Media lawyer says BBC right to take Trump sue threat 'seriously'
10:40 , Tara CobhamBBC in 'critical period' as it enters charter renewal, union head warns
10:20 , Tara CobhamPhilippa Childs, head of creative industries union Bectu, which has written a letter demanding the removal of Sir Robbie Gibb from the BBC board, said the corporation was in a “critical period” as it enters charter renewal.
She added: “It would be folly to navigate it with both a vacuum at the top and a board member who is widely viewed as divisive and damaging.
“The Culture Secretary has been very clear in her support for the BBC and its independence. It is time for her to demonstrate that by acting now to ensure the most impartial board possible for the organisation – that means Robbie Gibb has to go.
“Our members have worked incredibly hard to deliver high-quality content at a time of cuts and redundancies.
“They are critical to the delivery of the BBC’s mission and the government must listen to their concerns regarding Gibb’s suitability, to ensure a BBC fit for the next decade and beyond.”
Creative union demands removal of Gibb from BBC board
10:00 , Tara CobhamCreative industries union Bectu has written to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and BBC chairman Samir Shah demanding the removal of Sir Robbie Gibb from the BBC board.
The letter said: “Recent events have heightened the concerns of Bectu members about the direction of the BBC and its future.
“Staff are concerned about the forthcoming charter review amid open speculation about the future funding model. They are unsurprisingly anxious about entering this process with a vacuum of leadership and without a new director-general in place.
“And they are concerned about the BBC’s ability to resist partisan political pressure and uphold the integrity of its journalism.
“It is vital that staff feel that both the Government and the BBC board are truly committed to the future of the organisation, its mission, its independence and its values.
“Given this, we believe that the position of Sir Robbie Gibb on the BBC board has become a distraction and is untenable.
“We simply do not see how staff can have faith in the BBC’s leadership while a crucial position on the board is filled by someone perceived by many staff and external commentators as sympathetic to, or actively part of, a campaign to undermine the BBC and influence its political impartiality.”
Watch: BBC faces fresh allegations over Trump speech edit broadcast on Newsnight
09:40 , Tara Cobham
Watch: BBC faces fresh allegations over Trump speech edit broadcast on Newsnight
In focus: The BBC is loathed by Trump, but what does an American public broadcaster look like?
09:27 , Tara CobhamGrowing up in London, I took the BBC for granted. It formed part of my childhood rituals – in winter, hot chocolate in hand, I’d sit by the fire watching Newsround and Blue Peter. Grange Hill. Rentaghost. Jackanory. Five more minutes, then it’s time to do your homework. At 9 o’clock, mum and dad would switch on the news; a religious observance they still maintain today (only, since 2000, it has moved to 10 o’clock).
Later, it was Newsnight, Panorama, Arena, Horizon, Tomorrow’s World. I remember Judith Hann talking us through future predictions: sat nav in cars and video laser discs – the future of home entertainment. Peter Sissons, Moira Stuart, Martyn Lewis, and Michael Buerk explained what was happening in the Falklands, Northern Ireland, and why the miners were striking. They showed me the aftermath of the Brighton Hotel bombing, images of famine in Ethiopia, of Chernobyl, the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion, of Hillsborough, and Tiananmen Square.
The BBC made me aware. And it made me care.
Alex Hannaford writes:
The BBC is loathed by Trump, but what does an American public broadcaster look like?
How should the BBC adapt to Trump, scandals and changing audiences? Join The Independent Debate
09:00 , Tara CobhamTim Davie’s dramatic resignation as BBC director general, alongside the departure of BBC News chief Deborah Turness, has sparked fierce debate about the broadcaster’s future.
So what should happen next? Should the BBC reaffirm its public service mission, modernising carefully to meet the needs of a changing audience – or seize the Panorama controversy as a catalyst for a radical overhaul?
We want to hear from you. Share your thoughts in the comments – we’ll feature the most compelling responses in the coming days.
Have your say: How can the BBC adapt after Trump and various scandals?
BBC's charter review will examine political appointments to board, culture secretary says
08:42 , Tara CobhamThe BBC’s charter review will examine political appointments to the broadcaster’s board, Lisa Nandy said, as they have “damaged confidence and trust”.
The Culture Secretary was asked on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme whether BBC board member Sir Robbie Gibb, a former political adviser to Theresa May, had overstepped his remit and weighed in on politics.
She replied: “I think that in particular is a question for the board and for the chairman of the board. I don’t sit in those board meetings, and so I’m not in a position to be able to answer that.
“What I can say to you is that, I think, given you talked about the sheer number of questions that I had on this in the House of Commons just this week, I think there is a real concern, which I share, that political appointments to the board of the BBC damaged confidence and trust in the BBC’s impartiality.
“That’s something that we will be looking at as part of the charter review, which sets the terms for the BBC for the next decade, and which this Government is about to kick off.”
Nandy 'confident' BBC dealing with Trump legal action threat with 'seriousness it demands'
08:32 , Tara CobhamLisa Nandy said she is confident the BBC is dealing with the threat of legal action from US President Donald Trump with “the seriousness that it demands”.
The Culture Secretary told BBC Breakfast: “The BBC, as you know, is independent of Government and so they are having those direct discussions with the US administration and with their own lawyers, but I have been speaking daily to the chair of the board, the director-general and other senior leadership within the BBC.
“I am confident that they’re gripping this with the seriousness that it demands.”
Ms Nandy added: “They’ve consulted lawyers and they believe that there is no grounds for defamation, not least because the programme was not aired in the United States, because there were other voices on the programme that spoke in support of the president, and because he went on to win that election during which the programme was aired.
“Nevertheless, the senior leadership at the highest levels believed that this was a really serious editorial failing.
“That is the basis on which they have apologised to the president, and apologised to Parliament and the public as well.”
Ed Davey urges Starmer to tell Trump to drop 'ludicrous' $1bn lawsuit against BBC
08:10 , Shweta SharmaLiberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has stepped into the escalating row over the BBC’s edited Donald Trump speech, urging prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to press the former US president to abandon what he called a “ludicrous one billion dollar lawsuit” against the broadcaster.
Davey said his party had formally written to No 10, calling on the prime minister to defend the BBC amid mounting political tension around its impartiality.
In a post on X, he claimed that Mr Trump “wants to destroy the BBC” and encouraged people to join his campaign for the corporation to “fairly balance its political news coverage all year round, not just at election time”.
The Lib Dem leader also took aim at Reform UK chief Nigel Farage, who has accused the BBC of being “infected with left-wing bias”.
According to Davey, Farage “is egging him on”, fuelling the backlash surrounding the edit of Trump’s speech that appeared in Newsnight and, earlier, Panorama.
Amid the storm, there are reports that Reform UK has pulled out of a BBC documentary about the party, citing the controversy over the edited Trump clip. The move underscores how the dispute – already prompting high-profile BBC resignations and legal threats from Trump – is spilling further into Britain’s political landscape.
Watch: BBC faces fresh allegations over Trump speech edit on Newsnight
07:57 , Holly EvansShadow culture secretary calls for 'fundamental review' of BBC
07:40 , Holly EvansThe shadow culture secretary has said that Donald Trump deserves a “fulsome apology” and called for a “fundamental review” of the BBC’s processes.
Nigel Huddleston MP wrote on social media: “I am glad the BBC has said it is sorry and communicated that it made mistakes. The President of the United States deserves a fulsome apology.
“We await to hear whether the US President considers the apology sufficient. I do not want the British licence fee payer or the rest of the BBC to pay the price for poor editorial decisions made by BBC journalists.
“However, we would all be in a better position if the BBC had never made these errors in the first place.
“The BBC needs a fundamental review of processes and procedures to ensure that such failures in impartiality never happen again. Further revelations of historic errors this evening are concerning.”
I am glad the BBC has said it is sorry and communicated that it made mistakes. The President of the United States deserves a fulsome apology.
— Nigel Huddleston MP (@HuddlestonNigel) November 13, 2025
We await to hear whether the US President considers the apology sufficient.
I do not want the British licence fee payer or the rest of the… pic.twitter.com/WzNiqqwiy0
Full story: BBC apologises to Trump over Panorama edit but rejects demand for $1bn compensation
07:30 , Maira ButtThe BBC has apologised to Donald Trump over the editing of a speech in a documentary after the US president threatened a $1 billion lawsuit.
The corporation said on Thursday evening that chair Samir Shah sent a personal letter to the White House apologise for how a Trump’s speech appeared in a Panorama episode aired last October.
However, the broadcaster has refused to pay the president compensation, adding that it: “strongly disagrees there is a basis for a defamation claim”.
Trump has threatened to sue the BBC over its editing of the speech, which made it appear as if he was explicitly urging people to attack the US Capitol on January 6 2021. His lawyers had written to the corporation earlier this week demanding a retraction and compensation by Friday.
Athena Stavrou reports:
BBC apologises to Trump over Panorama edit but rejects demand for $1bn compensation
Deputy Reform UK leader claims BBC is 'infected by anti-Trump poison'
07:22 , Holly EvansRichard Tice, the Reform UK deputy leader, said: “With shocking news of a second Trump edit, it’s clear BBC News is infected by anti-Trump poison.
“We’ve said consistently that a larger clear-out is needed; this is the additional proof required.”
BBC chairman sends personal letter of apology to the White House
07:10 , Holly EvansChairman Samir Shah has sent a personal letter to the White House to apologise for the editing, and lawyers for the corporation have written to the president’s legal team, a BBC spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added: “While the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited, we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim.”
The broadcaster said it will not air the Panorama episode Trump: A Second Chance? again, and published a retraction on the show’s webpage on Thursday.
The spokesperson added: “The BBC has no plans to rebroadcast the documentary Trump: A Second Chance? on any BBC platforms.”
BBC accused of misleading viewers on Newsnight, two years before Panorama
07:00 , Maira ButtThe BBC faces renewed scrutiny after it emerged it was accused of misleading viewers about President Donald Trump’s speech ahead of the Capitol riots, two years before the Panorama episode at the centre of the corporation’s current controversy aired.
In BBC Newsnight episode broadcast in June 2022, the show reportedly played a similarly edited speech to the one used in the Panorama episode. Concerns had been raised in an editorial meeting but had been dismissed, according to the Telegraph.
The clips appeared to show the President urging Capitol protesters to “fight like hell”.
Inside the BBC Trump speech furore that prompted dramatic resignations of bosses
06:30 , Maira ButtThe latest controversy involved a BBC Panorama episode called Trump: A Second Chance?, which critics have said was misleading in the way it edited the president’s speech on 6 January 2021.
The US president himself weighed in on the resignations, saying that the documentary, which aired a week before the US presidential election last year, had been an attempt to “step on the scales of a presidential election”.
And he issued the BBC with an ultimatum: apologise by Friday and “appropriately” compensate him or face legal action for $1bn (£760m) in damages.
Athena Stavrou reports:
Inside the BBC Trump speech furore that prompted dramatic resignations of bosses
Recap: BBC issues apology to President Donald Trump – but refuses to pay compensation
06:00 , Maira ButtAfter days of controversy and a looming $1bn legal threat by the US president, on Thursday the BBC issued an apology to Donald Trump over an edited speech in a Panorama episode.
A BBC spokesperson said: “Lawyers for the BBC have written to President Trump's legal team in response to a letter received on Sunday.
“BBC chair Samir Shah has separately sent a personal letter to the White House making clear to President Trump that he and the corporation are sorry for the edit of the president's speech on 6 January 2021, which featured in the programme.
“The BBC has no plans to rebroadcast the documentary Trump: A Second Chance? on any BBC platforms.
“While the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited, we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim.”
Recap: Davie explains his departure
05:00 , Shaheena UddinWhile speaking to staff on a call on Tuesday morning, outgoing director general Tim Davie gave three key reasons for his departure.
BBC News reported he said the relentlessness of the role, the upcoming Charter renewal and criticism of the Panorama documentary on Trump were all contributing factors.
BBC apologises to Trump over Panorama edit but rejects demand for $1bn compensation
04:45 , Shweta SharmaThe BBC has apologised to Donald Trump over the editing of a speech in a documentary after the US president threatened a $1bn lawsuit.
The corporation said on Thursday evening that chair Samir Shah sent a personal letter to the White House to apologise for how Mr Trump’s speech appeared in a Panorama episode aired in October 2024.
However, the broadcaster has refused to pay the president compensation, adding that it: “Strongly disagrees there is a basis for a defamation claim.”
Read our full report.
BBC apologises to Trump over Panorama edit but rejects demand for $1bn compensation
BBC’s Newsnight under scanner for selectively editing same Trump Capitol riots speech as Panorama
04:30 , Shweta SharmaBBC’s Newsnight is facing renewed scrutiny after being accused of editing a Donald Trump speech in a way that made it appear he had issued a more explicit call for violent protest ahead of the Capitol riots.
The broadcaster is already under pressure following the resignations of director general Tim Davie and the head of BBC News, Deborah Turness – departures triggered by revelations that Panorama had similarly spliced together parts of the same Trump speech in a 2023 episode.
According to the Telegraph, the Newsnight edit stitched together a section of Trump’s address on the day of the 6 January 2021 riots, where he urged supporters to march to the Capitol, with a later segment in which he told them to “fight like hell”. Viewers were not alerted to the cut.
At the time, former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney criticised the edit on air, saying: “Your video actually spliced together the presentation. That line about ‘and we fight and fight like hell’ is actually later in the speech.”
Trump has since threatened a billion-dollar lawsuit, according to the White House, and the BBC is considering how to respond to the legal claim.
A BBC spokesperson said: “The BBC holds itself to the highest editorial standards. This matter has been brought to our attention and we are now looking into it.”
BBC's annual Children In Need telethon to return
04:27 , Shweta SharmaThe BBC's annual Children In Need telethon is to return in a programme filled with sketches and performances.
The evening, hosted by Paddy McGuinness, Big Zuu, Mel Giedroyc, Rochelle Humes, Vernon Kay and Lenny Rush, will see performances from the likes of McFly singer Tom Fletcher and girl band Remember Monday.
There will be sketches from BBC favourites including The Apprentice, EastEnders and Gladiators.
Fletcher, 40, will perform a song with his son Buzz for the first time on TV, accompanied by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
The track, Thread Of Hope, was written by the musician for a 25-minute animated film for CBeebies, which is coming to BBC One and BBC iPlayer this December.
It shares the same name as a book he has written, Pudsey And The Thread Of Hope.
The book and film, which celebrates 40 years of Pudsey Bear, follows a young boy called Jai who, while grieving for his father, embarks on a journey of healing with Pudsey, meeting other children who are connected by a golden thread of kindness.
Fletcher said: "When I was invited to perform a song from the animation with my son for the very first time, I knew it was a truly special opportunity.
"Sharing that moment together will be so incredibly meaningful, especially as it celebrates Pudsey's 40-year legacy.
"Across the UK, children and young people are facing challenges that no-one should face alone.
"Everyone needs a thread of hope, and I hope that through this performance, as well as the animation and book, we can raise vital funds and awareness to ensure children have the support, care and connection they need when it matters most."
How could the BBC defend itself if sued in the US?
04:00 , Shaheena UddinThe First Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees the right to free speech and gives the press some of the world's strongest legal protections against defamation claims.
The BBC would have those protections in any US court.
In Florida, the broadcaster could also rely on a state law that allows defendants to swiftly dismiss defamation lawsuits that have no merit or are brought to retaliate against legally protected speech.
The broadcaster could argue that the documentary was substantially true and that its editing decisions did not create a false impression, legal experts said.
It could also claim the program did not damage Trump's reputation.Trump has said it caused him "overwhelming reputational and financial harm".
BBC awaiting a response from Trump after apology
03:15 , Shweta SharmaThe BBC is awaiting a response from Donald Trump, after the corporation apologised for the editing of a speech by the US president which appeared on Panorama in 2024.
The corporation said the splicing of the speech was an "error of judgment" but rejected his demands for compensation, after Mr Trump's lawyers threatened to sue the BBC for one billion dollars in damages unless a retraction and apology was published.
Chairman Samir Shah has sent a personal letter to the White House to apologise for the editing, and lawyers for the corporation have written to the president's legal team, a BBC spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added: "While the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited, we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim."
The broadcaster said it will not air the Panorama episode Trump: A Second Chance? again, and published a retraction on the show's webpage on Thursday.
It said: "This programme was reviewed after criticism of how President Donald Trump's 6th January 2021 speech was edited.
"During that sequence, we showed excerpts taken from different parts of the speech.
"However, we accept that our edit unintentionally created the impression that we were showing a single continuous section of the speech, rather than excerpts from different points in the speech, and that this gave the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action.
"The BBC would like to apologise to President Trump for that error of judgment."
The spokesperson added: "The BBC has no plans to rebroadcast the documentary Trump: A Second Chance? on any BBC platforms."
Trump defends 'very calming' and 'beautiful' speech
03:00 , Shaheena UddinAs he said he had an “obligation” to sue the BBC, Donald Trump characterised his January 6 2021 speech as “very calming” and “beautiful”."
They actually changed my January 6 speech, which was a beautiful speech, which was a very calming speech, and they made it sound radical," Trump told Fox News."
They showed me the results of how they butchered it up. It was very dishonest and the head man quit and a lot of the other people quit."
Trump delivered his speech before his supporters stormed the US Capitol. Though he did tell the crowd to march “peacefully and patriotically”, he later told them to “fight like hell”.
Trump has taken his media war global – and the BBC is making it easy for him
02:00 , Shaheena UddinThe US president is threatening to sue the BBC for $1bn in the latest round of his attacks on the mainstream media. The corporation has made mistakes but this is the moment to fight back, writes Jon Sopel
Trump has taken his media war global – and the BBC is helping him
Threats to stop paying TV licence if Trump sues
01:00 , Shaheena UddinBritons have said they would stop paying their TV licence fee if Trump successfully sued the BBC.
A caller on BBC 5 Live said: “If we have to pay a penny to Trump, I'm sorry, but I'm not going to pay my TV licence.”
Others said they didn’t think the BBC “has got any out in this” apart from paying compensation.
Trump: I have an obligation to sue BBC
00:00 , Shaheena UddinFull story:
Thursday 13 November 2025 23:30 , Maira ButtThe BBC has apologised to Donald Trump over the editing of a speech in a documentary after the US president threatened a $1 billion lawsuit.
The corporation said on Thursday evening that chair Samir Shah sent a personal letter to the White House apologise for how a Trump’s speech appeared in a Panorama episode aired last October.
However, the broadcaster has refused to pay the president compensation, adding that it: “strongly disagrees there is a basis for a defamation claim”.
Athena Stavrou reports:
BBC apologises to Trump over Panorama edit but rejects demand for $1bn compensation
Every time Trump has sued the media after he threatens $1 billion BBC legal action
Thursday 13 November 2025 22:47 , Maira ButtThis is far from the first time that President Donald Trump has threatened a media company with legal action over perceived damages to his reputation.
Read below for all the times Trump has sued media outlets for threats to his reputation.
Every time Trump has sued the media after he threatens $1 billion BBC legal action
BBC had been accused of 'misleading viewers' two years before Panorama aired
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:25 , Maira ButtThe BBC faces renewed scrutiny after it emerged it was accused of misleading viewers about President Donald Trump’s speech ahead of the Capitol riots, two years before the Panorama episode at the centre of the corporation’s current controversy aired.
In BBC Newsnight episode broadcast in June 2022, the show reportedly played a similarly edited speech to the one used in the Panorama episode. Concerns had been raised in an editorial meeting but had been dismissed, according to the Telegraph.
The clips appeared to show the President urging Capitol protesters to “fight like hell”.
Lib Dems urge PM Keir Starmer to reject Trump's 'ludicrous' $1bn threat
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:10 , Maira ButtThe Liberal Democrats have called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to reject President Donald Trump’s “ludicrous” threat to sue the BBC for $1bn.
“We are writing to urge you to pick up the phone to President Trump and tell him to drop his threat of a ludicrous $1bn lawsuit against the BBC, before his deadline of 10pm tomorrow,” Sir Ed Davey and culture spokeswoman Anna Sabine said in a statement on Thursday.
They wrote that it was “clear that President Trump is trying to destroy the BBC”, and accused it of being “part of his broader assault on the free press”.
They added: “Trump’s attacks on the BBC go well beyond the mistakes over last year’s Panorama broadcast – for which the BBC chair has rightly apologised.
“President Trump has smeared BBC journalists as ‘corrupt’, while his White House press secretary described the BBC as ‘100 per cent fake news’ and urged everyone to watch GB News.
“The Government must stand up for Britain, stand up for the free press, protect licence fee payers and defend the impartiality and independence of the BBC.”
They insisted that Trumo should be told that there is “no chance of him getting a single penny of licence fee payers’ money”.
Who is Robbie Gibb, the man at the heart of the BBC scandal with links to Boris Johnson?
Thursday 13 November 2025 21:00 , Shaheena UddinBBC staffers and leading political figures are calling for Sir Robbie Gibb to step down from the BBC board.So, who is the Tory ‘agent’ at the centre of a tangled web of politics and media interests, asks Katie Rosseinsky:
Who is Robbie Gibb, Boris’s man at the heart of the BBC scandal?
BBC issues apology to President Donald Trump – but refuses to pay compensation
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:43 , Maira ButtAfter days of controversy and a looming $1bn legal threat by the US president, the BBC has issued an apology to Donald Trump over an edited speech in a Panorama episode.
A BBC spokesperson said: “Lawyers for the BBC have written to President Trump's legal team in response to a letter received on Sunday.
“BBC chair Samir Shah has separately sent a personal letter to the White House making clear to President Trump that he and the corporation are sorry for the edit of the president's speech on 6 January 2021, which featured in the programme.
“The BBC has no plans to rebroadcast the documentary Trump: A Second Chance? on any BBC platforms.
“While the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited, we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim.”
BBC right to take Trump legal threat ‘seriously’ says media lawyer
Thursday 13 November 2025 20:00 , Shaheena UddinWho has taken over from outgoing director-general Tim Davie?
Thursday 13 November 2025 19:00 , Shaheena UddinJonathan Munro has stepped in to command the news division at the BBC, following the resignations of director-general Tim Davie and CEO of BBC News Deborah Turness.
Speaking on the BBC Panorama edits, Mr Munro said: “There was no attempt to mislead the audience about the content or nature of Mr Trump’s speech before the riot at the Capitol. It’s normal practice to edit speeches into short-form clips.”
Although long term leadership arrangements have not been confirmed.
Trump's threat to take legal action is 'not a sign of a deteriorating UK-US relationship'
Thursday 13 November 2025 18:00 , Shaheena UddinWhen asked whether President Donald Trump’s threat to take legal action against the BBC were signs of a deteriorating UK-US relationship, a No 10 spokesman said: “I wouldn’t accept that.
“As you’ve seen, the Prime Minister and the president have a very close relationship.”
How should the BBC adapt to Trump, scandals and changing audiences? Join The Independent Debate
Thursday 13 November 2025 17:00 , Shaheena Uddinim Davie’s dramatic resignation as BBC director general, alongside the departure of BBC News chief Deborah Turness, has sparked fierce debate about the broadcaster’s future.
The Panorama controversy, intensified by Donald Trump’s threat of legal action, has left many Independent readers questioning whether the BBC’s public service model is still fit for purpose in 2025.
For nearly a century, the BBC has been funded by the licence fee, its mission is to provide impartial news, high-quality programming, and content that serves the whole of the UK – from education and drama to music and science – rather than chasing commercial profit.
Several readers have defended the BBC’s global role and the quality of its reporting, arguing its model ensures trustworthy journalism and a uniquely British cultural output.
Others warn that succumbing to external pressure – whether political, legal, or commercial – risks undermining press freedom.
So what should happen next? Should the BBC reaffirm its public service mission, modernising carefully to meet the needs of a changing audience – or seize the Panorama controversy as a catalyst for a radical overhaul?
We want to hear from you. Share your thoughts in the comments – we’ll feature the most compelling responses in the coming days.
Have your say: How can the BBC adapt after Trump and various scandals?
Recap: Davie explains his departure
Thursday 13 November 2025 16:00 , Shaheena UddinWhile speaking to staff on a call on Tuesday morning, outgoing director general Tim Davie gave three key reasons for his departure.
BBC News reported he said the relentlessness of the role, the upcoming Charter renewal and criticism of the Panorama documentary on Trump were all contributing factors.
Andrew Marr thinks Trump is "deadly serious about going for" the BBC
Thursday 13 November 2025 15:30 , Shaheena UddinAndrew Marr, the BBC's former political editor, told Channel 4 that he believes Trump to be "deadly serious about going for" the BBC.
He said that "even the legal fees here are going to be enormous and I think the pressure on the BBC is going to be intense."
Inside the BBC Trump speech furore that prompted dramatic resignations of bosses
Thursday 13 November 2025 14:00 , Shaheena UddinStarmer: BBC needs to ‘get their house in order’ as Trump ramps up legal threat
Thursday 13 November 2025 13:00 , Shaheena UddinThe BBC needs to “get their house in order”, Sir Keir Starmer said as US President Donald Trump said he had an “obligation” to launch a billion-dollar lawsuit against the corporation.
The Prime Minister said he believed in a “strong and independent” BBC but it needed to “uphold the highest standards”.
Starmer: BBC needs to ‘get their house in order’ as Trump ramps up legal threat
Majority believe BBC should apologise - poll
Thursday 13 November 2025 12:00 , Shaheena UddinThe majority of Britons believe the BBC should apologise to Donald Trump over the editing of his speech in a panorama documentary.
A new YouGov poll found 57 per cent of respondents believed the BBC should apologise, while 25 per cent believed they shouldn’t and 18 percent didn’t know.
90 per cent of Reform voters believed the BBC should apologise, compared to 75 per cent of Conservatives, 55 per cent of Lib Dems and 51 per cent of Labour voters.
Only 35 per cent of 18-25 year olds believed the broadcaster should say sorry, compared to 70 per cent of people aged over 65.
35,000 call for BBC to not compensate Trump
Thursday 13 November 2025 11:00 , Shaheena UddinOver 35,000 people have backed a petition calling for the BBC to rule out compensating Donald Trump as his legal challenge looms.
The petition, on Change.org, says it would be “inappropriate and against the ethos of public service broadcasting,” and states that if any compensation were paid, an equivalent refund should be made to TV licence payers.
It says: “This would serve not only as a gesture of goodwill but also as a reassurance to the public that their money will not be used for questionable financial settlements.”
Reform UK cancels BBC documentary after 'trust has been lost'
Thursday 13 November 2025 10:00 , Shaheena Uddin
Reform UK have “politely declined to participate” in a BBC documentary, saying that “trust has been lost”.
The film, ‘Rise of Reform’ was set to be presented by Laura Kuenssberg and produced by an independent company October Films.
This same company was involved in the BBC Panorama film which featured Trump's edited Capitol speech from 6 January 2021, which the party called "disinformation".
While October Films was not directly responsible for this edit, which was made by BBC staff, the Reform party sent a memo cancelling its appearance.
The memo read: “We want to be clear that October Films have always conducted themselves professionally, and there is no suggestion from our side that they would maliciously misrepresent Reform UK.
“However, following the Panorama documentary the trust has been lost, and both BBC and the production company will have to do a lot of hard work to regain that trust.”
Voices: Trump has taken his media war global – and the BBC is making it easy for him
Thursday 13 November 2025 09:00 , Namita SinghThe US president is threatening to sue the BBC for $1bn in the latest round of his attacks on the mainstream media.
The corporation has made mistakes but this is the moment to fight back, writes Jon Sopel.
Trump has taken his media war global – and the BBC is helping him
Keir Starmer breaks silence on Donald Trump’s threat to sue BBC for $1bn
Thursday 13 November 2025 07:00 , Namita Singh
Keir Starmer breaks silence on Donald Trump’s threat to sue BBC for $1bn
