US President threatens to sue BBC, demanding $1 billion in compensation

On November 10, US President Donald Trump threatened to sue the British BBC, demanding up to $1 billion in compensation, after the station apologized for editing a speech that misleadingly said he had urged "violent action" before the 2021 attack on Capitol Hill.

Mr Trump's lawyers have sent a letter and given the BBC until November 14 to withdraw the entire documentary containing misleading editing, apologize and "adequately compensate" the president "for the damage caused."

The notice said that if the BBC did not comply, "President Trump would have no choice but to enforce his legal and equitable rights... including filing a lawsuit seeking damages of not less than $1 billion."

Director General Tim Davie and BBC News Chief Executive Deborah Turness resigned on 9 November in the face of growing protests.

In a letter to MPs, BBC chairman Samir Shah said the broadcaster admitted it had edited Mr Trump's speech in the documentary and pledged to reform its oversight practices. The BBC said it would "consider" the letter from Mr Trump's legal team.

The documentary is about the events of January 6, 2021, when Trump supporters rioted at Capitol Hill (USA) to overturn the verdict confirming his defeat to Democratic candidate Joe Biden in the 2020 US presidential election.

According to Mr Trump's lawyers, the BBC's edit created a "false" impression of what he said in his speech outside the White House and caused "President Trump severe financial and reputational harm."

In his response, speaking to the press, the spokesman for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized: "The BBC must act quickly to maintain trust and quickly correct the errors."

The official added that the UK government is preparing to review the BBC's charter, which sets out the corporation's governance and funding. The current charter expires in 2027.

The BBC, which is currently struggling financially, has cut hundreds of jobs. Earlier this year, the BBC apologised for “serious errors” in the making of another documentary about the conflict in Gaza, which the UK media watchdog said was “seriously misleading”.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/tong-thong-my-doa-kien-dai-bbc-yeu-cau-boi-thuong-1-ty-usd-post1076290.vnp