BBC chairman Samir Shah has told staff Donald Trump has "no basis for a defamation case" over the editing of his speech in a Panorama episode. "We are determined to fight this," he said in an internal note.
The reassurance comes as Trump insists he will sue the broadcaster despite receiving an apology. The US president's lawyers had threatened legal action for one billion dollars in damages over the disputed edit.
The controversy centers on a Panorama episode that spliced Trump's January 6, 2021 speech ahead of the Capitol attack. The BBC admitted the edit gave the "mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action". The broadcaster called it an "error of judgment" but refused to pay financial compensation.
Trump vows to proceed
Trump told GB News on Saturday he has an "obligation" to sue. "This was so egregious. If you don't do it, you don't stop it from happening again with other people," he said. The lawsuit would likely be filed "someplace in the US", Trump added.
In his staff note, Shah emphasized the BBC's duty to protect license fee payers. "There is no basis for a defamation case and we are determined to fight this," he wrote. He said he had spoken with the executive team and was reassured of their "resolute focus" on continuing to deliver for audiences and staff.
Leadership resignations
The scandal has already claimed two top BBC executives. Director-general Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness resigned over the editing controversy.
The BBC has said it will not air the Panorama episode Trump: A Second Chance? again. The broadcaster published a retraction on the show's webpage on Thursday.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
