Trump Vows to Sue BBC for $5 Billion Over Edited Speech, Despite Apology and Resignations
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US President Donald Trump has refused to back down from his threat to sue the BBC for $5 billion over an edited version of his speech from January 6, 2021. The BBC had apologized and retracted the documentary, titled 'Trump: A Second Chance,' which was at the center of the dispute. However, Trump's lawyer had demanded financial compensation for 'harm caused' and an apology, or face a $1 billion defamation lawsuit. According to experts, Trump's lawsuit faces significant legal hurdles. The BBC's editing of Trump's speech, which made it seem like he was directly calling for violence at the US Capitol, may not be defamatory. The remarks that were spliced together were both things Trump said, even if the edit was poorly done. The case would also need to meet the 'actual malice' standard, a high bar required for public figures to prove defamation. This standard was established by the US Supreme Court in 1964 to protect free speech. Trump's lawyer has said the suit will be filed in Florida, where the time limit for filing defamation lawsuits is longer than in the UK. This is not the first time Trump has filed a lawsuit against a news outlet. He has pending cases against the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, both of which deny wrongdoing. Experts say a lawsuit by Trump against the BBC would likely fail because it would set a chilling precedent for the media to censor itself. The BBC's editing of Trump's speech was a matter of interpretation, and the network has maintained that it was not defamatory. The case highlights the importance of protecting free speech and the role of the media in holding public figures accountable. Trump's decision to pursue the lawsuit is seen as an attempt to punish the BBC for its coverage of him, rather than a genuine attempt to seek justice for defamation.
