Donald Trump has threatened to sue the BBC for $1bn (£760m), his legal team says, accusing the corporation of trying to “interfere in the presidential election” last year by selectively editing one of his speeches for a Panorama episode.
The letter to the broadcaster signalling legal action marks a major escalation in the row over the documentary, which critics claim painted a misleading portrait of the US president’s speech on 6 January 2021, removing a section when he said he wanted supporters to demonstrate peacefully.
The corporation said on Monday it was reviewing the letter and would “respond directly in due course”.
BBC chair Samir Shah has meanwhile apologised and described the editing of the speech as an “error of judgement”.
A leaked memo had raised concerns that clips of Mr Trump's speech had been spliced together to give the impression he had told supporters he would walk to the US Capitol with them to "fight like hell".
Director-general Tim Davie and the head of BBC News Deborah Turness resigned on Sunday over the episode, which aired the week before the US elections last year.
Read MoreDonald Trump’s press secretary celebrates after Tim Davie resigns as BBC director-general
Tim Davie quits as BBC director-general after Trump speech Panorama controversy
Why have Tim Davie and Deborah Turness resigned from the BBC?
Tim Davie: From marketing manager to leaving BBC’s top job
Key Points
- Trump threatens to sue BBC for $1bn
- BBC chair apologises for 'error of judgement'
- Claims resignations were 'an inside job'
- There is 'no institutional bias' at the BBC, Turness insists
- White House mocks Davie after departure
Watch: BBC chief considers how to respond to ‘litigious fellow’ Trump
01:55 , Jane Dalton BBC Chair Samir Shah considering how to respond to ‘litigious fellow’ Trump
'Right-wing campaign' aimed to undermine BBC, supporters claim
00:40 , Jane DaltonSupporters of the BBC, including journalists at The Guardian and The Financial Times, and some BBC staff, believe there was an orchestrated right-wing campaign to undermine the corporation, according to statements they’ve made.
"This is a crisis created by political and commercial opponents to public service broadcasting and the BBC," said Diane Coyle, an economist and vice-chair of a former BBC governing body.
The supporters say daily leaks of criticism from the memo ramped up pressure, while high-profile figures such as former Conservative prime minister Boris Johnson fuelled the controversy.
Alan Rusbridger, former editor of The Guardian who now heads Prospect magazine, said many on the BBC board came from a background of finance or business, or had not worked in journalism for a long time. He said as well as a new director-general, the corporation needed stronger governance.
"The board itself is not really well placed to make fine editorial judgements," he said.
"Any director-general coming in would want to know who's got their back and whether there are people who can make the judgements and defend the journalism when it needs to be defended, or reach sophisticated judgements on when it needs to be corrected or apologised for."
The BBC's media correspondent, Katie Razzall, and political presenter Nick Robinson both said they had been told there was a clash with the board, with news executives wanting to publish an apology and the board preventing it.
BBC unwilling to listen to internal systems, says presenter
23:20 , Jane DaltonThe controversy arose because the corporation was "not willing" to listen to "the recommendations of their own internal system for checking bias", a former presenter claims.
Mark Urban, former diplomatic editor of Newsnight, told Sky News: "This crisis has come about because the BBC, including Deborah Turness, were not willing to listen to and act sufficiently energetically upon the recommendations of their own internal system for checking bias.”
He highlighted reporting of gender issues, race and Gaza.
"And I think when you put all those things collectively together, we understand, and if you've been in meetings, as I have for many years, you've seen the BBC change in recent years, I think, in common with many other news organisations and many other publicly funded organisations, but you've seen that much more - for want of a better word - woke tendency among younger members of staff, and the tension between young and old.
"And of course that's what's burst out here."
Recap: Why BBC bosses quit
22:15 , Jane Dalton Why have Tim Davie and Deborah Turness resigned from the BBC?
Examples of BBC bias, according to report
21:00 , Jane DaltonTim Davie quit after an explosive memo accusing the BBC of bias was leaked last week.
The report, by Michael Prescott, a former external adviser to the BBC’s editorial standards committee, claimed:
• The Panorama documentary Trump: A Second Chance? “seemed to be taking a distinctly anti-Trump stance” and had “materially misled viewers”.
• The memo said several members of staff had shared concerns about the BBC’s coverage of transgender issues. He said there had been stories “celebrating the trans experience without adequate balance or objectivity”.
• Prescott said there had been a “selection bias” in favour of certain stories being sent as push notifications to the BBC app. The memo says there was a bias against sending stories about migration and asylum-seekers.
• He also said there had been “ill-researched” stories about racism, including a BBC Verify story about a correlation between higher car insurance premiums in ethnically diverse areas. The story has now been removed.
• Prescott highlighted concerns of biased reporting on the BBC’s Arabic service and in other coverage of Gaza.
Recap: Trump threatens to sue BBC over documentary
20:00 , Jane DaltonUS president Donald Trump has threatened legal action against the BBC over the way a speech he made was edited in a Panorama documentary, his lawyers saying the corporation must retract its documentary by Friday or face a lawsuit for "no less" than $1bn.
Chairman Samir Shah has apologised for the "error of judgment", which triggered the resignations of director-General Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness on Sunday over accusations of biased editing of a speech by Mr Trump on 6 January 2021, before a crowd of supporters stormed the Capitol in Washington.
The hour-long documentary — titled Trump: A Second Chance? — was broadcast days before the 2024 US presidential election. It spliced together three quotes from two sections of the speech, delivered almost an hour apart, into what appeared to be one quote in which Mr Trump urged supporters to march with him and "fight like hell".
Among the parts cut out was a section where Mr Trump said he wanted supporters to demonstrate peacefully.
Mr Shah said the broadcaster accepted "that the way the speech was edited did give the impression of a direct call for violent action."
A letter from Trump lawyer Alejandro Brito demanded the BBC "retract the false, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory statements", apologise and "appropriately compensate President Trump for the harm caused" or face legal action for $1bn in damages.
Tim Davie's salary before he quit
19:21 , Jane DaltonTim Davie’s salary was between £540,000 and £544,999, according to the BBC.
He worked for the corporation for 20 years and was director-general for five.
These are the controversies he faced:
From Lineker to Bob Vylan: The scandals that shaped Tim Davie’s reign at the BBC
‘BBC must get back to basics’: Readers debate broadcaster’s future
18:44 , Jane Dalton ‘Back to basics’: Readers on the BBC’s future after Trump Panorama controversy
Watch: ‘I did not want to lose Tim Davie,’ says BBC chief
18:12 , Jane DaltonScandals that shaped Tim Davie’s BBC career
17:40 , Jane Dalton From Lineker to Bob Vylan: The scandals that shaped Tim Davie’s reign at the BBC
Opinion: The ex-prime minister responsible for bringing the BBC so low
17:10 , Jane Dalton One man is responsible for bringing the BBC so low – Boris Johnson
Not fair Davie had to quit, says Shah
16:45 , Jane DaltonBBC chairman Samir Shah says it wasn’t fair that director-general Tim Davie had to quit over the Panorama row.
He told BBC News Mr Davie had had a very, very difficult job. “The BBC is a huge, massive enterprise, and asks a lot of the director-general in terms of just his physical resilience and also emotional, and I do think it's a characteristic, I would say, that we really do enjoy beating people up,” he said.
"And you've got to remember that these people are human, they have families, they have emotions, and you can't consistently do that just because you want to give somebody a kicking, it's not fair.
"It wasn't fair on Tim. I've got to know Tim very well over the last 15 months, and I have huge admiration for what he's done, and it's an admiration shared by the board."
Opinion: A Trump lawsuit won’t finish BBC off – but Nigel Farage might
16:15 , Jane Dalton A Trump lawsuit won’t finish the BBC off – but Nigel Farage might
Trump lawyers claim BBC defamed him
15:47 , Jane DaltonThe BBC “defamed President Trump by intentionally and deceitfully editing its documentary in order to try and interfere in the presidential election", a spokesman for the president's outside legal team told NBC News.
But former head of news Deborah Turness denied this, saying: “Of course our journalists aren’t corrupt. Our journalists are hardworking people who strive for impartiality."
She said "the buck stops with me. But I’d like to make one thing very clear: BBC News is not institutionally biased."
Board did not want Davie to quit, says BBC chairman
15:45 , Jane DaltonBBC chairman Samir Shah has said he "did not want to lose" former director-general Tim Davie, who quit on Sunday.
Mr Shah, 73, told BBC News: "I did not want to lose Tim Davie. I think Tim Davie has been an outstanding director-general, and may I say, nor did any member of the board.
"We were upset by the decision, I do understand it at a very human level, Tim has gone through a lot of attacks, it's been relentless.”
Trump threatens to sue BBC for $1bn
15:34 , Jane DaltonDonald Trump has reportedly threatened to sue the BBC for $1bn (£760m).
His lawyers are demanding a retraction by this Friday.
In a letter from the US president's lawyers to the BBC and seen by NBC News, the US president set the BBC a deadline of 5pm EST (10pm in the UK) Friday to "comply", Sky News reports.
The letter says that if the corporation does not: "President Trump will be left with no alternative but to enforce his legal and equitable rights, all of which are expressly reserved and are not waived, including by filing legal action for no less than $1,000,000,000 (One Billion Dollars) in damages. The BBC is on notice."
A spokesperson for Trump's legal team told NBC: "The BBC defamed President Trump by intentionally and deceitfully editing its documentary in order to try and interfere in the Presidential Election. President Trump will continue to hold accountable those who traffic in lies, deception, and fake news."
A BBC spokesperson told NBC News: "We will review the letter and respond directly in due course."
Trump asks 'Is this you you treat ally?' says Farage
15:21 , Jane DaltonReform leader Nigel Farage said he spoke to Donald Trump on Friday, adding: "He just said to me: 'Is this how you treat your best ally?'
"It's quite a powerful comment."
Watch: BBC should prepare for all outcomes, says Shah
14:48 , Jane DaltonWatch: Lib Dem leader urges Starmer to defend BBC from Trump
14:31 , Jane DaltonTrump threatens legal action against BBC
13:48 , Athena StavrouDonald Trump has threatened legal action against the BBC in a letter, BBC News has reported.
The BBC chair earlier told BBC News that they had received communication from President Trump, adding: “We are now considering how to reply to him.”
Asked if Mr Trump has said he will be suing the BBC, Mr Shah said: “I do not know that yet, but he’s a litigious fellow so we should be prepared for all outcomes.”
Trump has filed defamation lawsuits against media companies before, most notably the New York Times.
PM: BBC is not institutionally biased
13:31 , Athena StavrouThe prime minister has rejected claims the BBC is “institutionally biased”.
It is understood that No 10 was told yesterday that the senior resignations seen at the broadcaster were imminent.
As Downing Street hit back at claims by US President Donald Trump and other critics of the BBC, the PM's official spokesman told reporters: “On the question of is the BBC corrupt?: No.
“The BBC has a vital role in an age of disinformation... where there's a clear argument for a robust, impartial British news service to deliver, and that case is stronger than ever.
“I think I've already addressed some of the comments that have been made over the last 24 hours, but we are of the view that it's important that the BBC acts swiftly to maintain trust and correct mistakes quickly when they occur.”
The spokesman was also asked if Sir Keir Starmer believed the BBC was institutionally biased, and replied: “No, but it is important that the BBC acts to maintain trust and correct mistakes quickly when they occur, because as I say, for any public service broadcaster, accountability is vital to maintain trust.”
BBC chair 'does not know' if Trump will sue BBC
13:25 , Athena StavrouThe BBC chair has said he does not know whether Donald Trump will sue the BBC, as he said the corporation had been contacted by the US president.
Samir Shah has told BBC News they are “considering how to reply” to communication received from President Trump.
Asked if Mr Trump has said he will be suing the BBC, Mr Shah said: “I do not know that yet, but he’s a litigious fellow so we should be prepared for all outcomes.”
Trump has filed defamation lawsuits against media companies before, most notably the New York Times.
'Simply not true' that memo 'uncovered' issues at BBC
13:05 , Athena StavrouBBC chair Samir Shah has defended the broadcaster, saying it is “simply not true” that the leaked memo “uncovered” issues.
The memo, written by a former external adviser to the BBC’s editorial standards committee, Michael Prescott, raised concerns of institutional bias.
But Mr Shah denied that the BBC has sought to “bury” these issues.
He said in a letter to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee: “There is another view that has gained currency in the coverage that the BBC has done nothing to tackle these problems.
“That is also simply not true.”
Analysis: Letter from the BBC chairman unlikely to be end of the issue
12:57 , Athena StavrouThe Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
Dr Samir Shah’s apologetic letter to the Commons’ culture, media and sport select committee seems unlikely to satisfy members.
The Independent understands that there had been some concerns that he had not already offered to come and address them prior to Tim Davies’ resignation as director general.
Now the committee is set to meet tomorrow in private ahead of hearing evidence from Michael Prescott, the author of the memo which has plunged the BBC into its latest scandal.
Committee chair Dame Caroline Dinenage has told The Independent that the committee will “discuss next steps”.
But that is set to include demands that Dr Shah and other senior figures from the Corporation come and give an account of what has happened, including claims that Mr Davie was the victim of an internal coup.
Over 500 complaints received since memo leak
12:48 , Athena StavrouIn his letter to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Monday, BBC chair Samir Shah said the corporation had received hundreds of complaints since Michael Prescott’s memo was leaked.
The report was published by The Telegraph, and raised concerns about bias in a Panorama episode in which a speech by Donald Trump was spliced.
He said: “Since the publication of Mr Prescott’s memo, this issue has led to over 500 complaints. These are now being dealt with in the normal way.”
BBC chair apologises for 'error of judgement'
12:28 , Athena StavrouBBC chair Samir Shah has said the corporation would like to “apologise for that error of judgment” over the editing of a speech by Donald Trump for Panorama.
Mr Shah, who was responding to a letter from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee (CMS), said there have been more than 500 complaints since the publication of the memo, adding: “We accept that the way the speech was edited did give the impression of a direct call for violent action.”
Farage says BBC has been 'institutionally biased for decades'
12:23 , Athena StavrouThe Independent’s political correspondent Caitlin Doherty reports:
Nigel Farage has said that the BBC has been “institutionally biased for decades” and called on the corporation to “get a grip” and hire “somebody in from the outside” in the hunt for a new director general.
Speaking at a press conference in central London, the Reform UK leader also claimed that he had spoken with US President Donald Trump about the matter.“
“I actually spoke to the president on Friday. He just said to me: ‘Is this how you treat your best ally?’” he said.
“It’s quite a powerful comment.”
He also suggested that there could be a surge in the number of people not wanting to pay the licence fee.
“If the BBC doesn’t now get a grip, get somebody in from the outside, somebody who has got a history and a culture of changing organisations, of turning them around, then I think what you would see within the next couple of years are many, many millions just refusing, just not wanting to have the licence fee,” he said.
What did the leaked memo say?
12:09 , Athena StavrouTim Davie’s resignation comes after an explosive memo accusing the BBC of bias was leaked last week.
The report by Michael Prescott, a former external adviser to the BBC’s editorial standards committee, was published in full by The Telegraph, sparking intense reaction and criticism.
Here are some key things it included:
• The Panorama documentary Trump: A Second Chance? was “seemed to be taking a distinctly anti-Trump stance” and had “materially misled viewers”.
• The memo said several members of staff had shared concerns about the BBC’s coverage of transgender issues. He said there had been stories “celebrating the trans experience without adequate balance or objectivity”.
• Prescott said there had been a “selection bias” in favour of certain stories being sent as push notifications to the BBC app. The memo says there was a bias against sending stories about migration and asylum seekers.
• He also said there had been “ill-researched” stories about racism, including a BBC Verify story about a correlation between higher car insurance premiums in ethnically diverse areas. The story has now been removed.
• Prescott highlighted concerns of biased reporting on the BBC’s Arabic service and in other coverage of Gaza.
Ed Davey: Britain must defend the BBC against Trump
11:45 , Athena StavrouEd Davey has written fellow party leaders from across the political spectrum, asking them to join him in defending the BBC from Donald Trump.
The leader of the Liberal Democrats penned a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage, urging them to condemn the US president.
Mr Davey said: “The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together.”
I’ve written to Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch and Nigel Farage urging them to condemn Donald Trump’s attack on the BBC.
— Ed Davey (@EdwardJDavey) November 10, 2025
The BBC belongs to Britain, not Trump. We must defend it together. pic.twitter.com/MBexY9ZM1x
BBC Panorama Trump speech edit was ‘designed to deceive’, says Andrew Marr
11:30 , Athena StavrouBBC suffers from 'bunker mentality' in crisis
11:20 , Athena StavrouA former controller of BBC One has said the broadcaster has a “habit” of “playing dead” while in crisis.
Peter Fincham told BBC Radio 5 Live: “One of the BBC’s worst habits is to think it’ll be alright to play dead.”
He added: “This report came in May, and they didn’t do anything about it.”
Analysis: Tim Davie resignation is the culmination of a culture war decade
11:09 , David MaddoxThe Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
Sniping over BBC impartiality is not new and has been an issue since the 1980s but things really came into sharp focus during the EU referendum in 2016.
The coverage of that historic vote and subsequent balance of Brexit coverage led to a sustained onslaught over whether the BBC is impartial or not.
While this came mostly from the rightwing press, supporters of Jeremy Corbyn when he was Labour leader and more recently the Greens have also joined in the attacks from the far left.
The issues only heated up during the tenure of Tim Davie as director general from the moment he took over in 2020.
Issues like the coverage of the Middle East War and treatment of Israel took over from Brexit as sticks to beat the BBC with. And Mr Davie’s trip to Glastonbury as the Corporation was covering Bob Vylan’s “death to the IDF” performance live did not help.
While some think Mr Davis is the victim of a coup his head has been on the chopping block since his bungled handling of the Gary Lineker controversy over his political tweets, briefly suspending the former Match of the Day presenter before being forced to U-turn.
The truth though is that the culture war attacks on the BBC are not going to end with Mr Davie’s departure and will hang over the next charter negotiations being conducted by the Corporation and a deeply unpopular Labour government.