By Charles Pemu 
United States President Donald Trump filed a major lawsuit on Monday seeking at least $10 billion in damages from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The suit alleges that the BBC unfairly edited his 2021 speech to supporters preceding the U.S. Capitol riot in a documentary, distorting his message and leading to defamation.
The lawsuit claims that the documentary, which covered the events leading up to and during the January 6, 2021, breach of the Capitol, intentionally manipulated footage of President Trump’s speech to present a false narrative regarding his intentions and his role in the subsequent violence.
President Trump’s legal team asserts that the selective editing removed crucial context from his address to supporters on the Ellipse, particularly his calls for a peaceful demonstration, thereby making the speech appear to be a direct incitement to violence.
The BBC has not yet issued an official response to the lawsuit. The complaint, filed in federal court, demands a staggering $10 billion in compensatory and punitive damages, claiming that the documentary has irreparably harmed the President’s reputation and political standing.
The legal action marks one of the most significant defamation cases brought by a sitting or former U.S. President against a major international news organization.