Former U.S. President Donald Trump has filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), claiming the broadcaster manipulated his January 6, 2021 speech in a documentary to falsely suggest he incited violence at the U.S. Capitol. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in Miami, Florida, citing defamation and violations of Florida’s deceptive trade practices laws.

Trump alleges that the BBC’s Panorama documentary “Trump: A Second Chance?” edited his speech to omit sections calling for peaceful protest, creating the impression that he urged supporters to storm the Capitol. He argues the portrayal damaged his reputation and interfered with the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

The BBC has previously apologised for the misleading edit, describing it as an “error of judgment,” which led to the resignations of its Director-General and head of news. The broadcaster, however, denies legal liability. Trump’s legal team is seeking $5 billion for each of two counts in the lawsuit, while British officials and media advocates defend the BBC’s editorial independence.