President Donald Trump is planning to take legal action against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) this week over an allegedly misleading and defamatory edit of his January 6, 2021, speech, according to Fox News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett.
Appearing on Fox & Friends, Jarrett described the BBC’s actions as “shameful journalism,” giving a breakdown of the planned lawsuit and the legal hurdles ahead.
The Alleged Defamation
The heart of the controversy centers on the BBC’s portrayal of Trump’s remarks ahead of the Capitol riot. The broadcaster allegedly spliced together various clips to give the impression that Trump was inciting violence.
Crucially, the edit omitted a key line where Trump instructed supporters to “soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.”
Jarrett stated that the evidence is “overwhelming” that the BBC “falsely portrayed Trump… as you showed it inciting violence in a clear case of what I think is defamation.” He argued that by deleting the call to act peacefully and splicing the remaining video, the edit gave the “opposite impression,” making it “almost certainly defamatory.”
A Multibillion-Dollar Lawsuit
Despite the BBC issuing an apology, retracting the story, and removing it—a move Jarrett says demonstrates they knew the edit was wrong—the former President is moving forward with the legal case.
Trump has announced plans to sue for “anywhere between a billion and 5 billion,” stating, “I think I have to do it, I mean it’s they’ve even admitted that they cheated.” Jarrett noted that the damages Trump sustained are “considerable” since the network allegedly ran the “phony clip” over a long period, causing harm to his reputation, “not just in Great Britain but worldwide.”
Legal Strategy and Institutional Bias
Jarrett explored where the case might be filed, noting that American courts make it harder for the plaintiff, requiring proof of “actual malice” (knowingly false or reckless disregard of the proof). Conversely, in Great Britain, the burden of proof shifts to the defendant to disprove the defamatory statement. While acknowledging the advantage of suing abroad, Jarrett guessed Trump would ultimately file the lawsuit in the United States.
The legal analyst further suggested that the issue stems from a “pervasive liberal bias” corrupting the network’s reporting. He referenced a New York Times report detailing “turmoil” among BBC board members and executives over how to handle the controversy, with some pushing for a “broad and sweeping apology.”
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