BBC chairman: Trump has no basis for defamation case
BBC chairman Samir Shah has reassured staff US President Donald Trump has “no basis for a defamation case”, over the editing of his speech for Panorama, adding: “We are determined to fight this.”
The president has said he will still sue the corporation despite an apology over the editing of a speech made ahead of the attack on the US Capitol.
The BBC said the edit of Mr Trump’s speech on January 6 2021 had given the “mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action”.
The broadcaster apologised and said the splicing of the speech was an “error of judgment” but refused to pay financial compensation after the US president’s lawyers threatened to sue for one billion dollars in damages unless a retraction and apology were published.
In a note to staff seen by the PA news agency, Mr Shah said: “There is a lot being written, said and speculated upon about the possibility of legal action, including potential costs or settlements.
“In all this we are, of course, acutely aware of the privilege of our funding and the need to protect our licence fee payers, the British public.
“I want to be very clear with you – our position has not changed. There is no basis for a defamation case and we are determined to fight this.
“Last week I took the opportunity to speak with the Executive team and am reassured of their resolute focus on ensuring the BBC continues to deliver on behalf of audiences and staff.
“I know they plan to spend as much time as possible with their teams over the coming weeks to reinforce the importance of that work and answer your questions.”
In an interview with GB News broadcast on Saturday, Mr Trump said he had an “obligation” to sue the BBC, adding: “This was so egregious. If you don’t do it, you don’t stop it from happening again with other people.”
Mr Trump also said the lawsuit would be likely to be filed “someplace in the US”.
The Panorama scandal prompted the resignations of two of the BBC’s most senior executives: director-general Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness.
The BBC has said it will not air the Panorama episode Trump: A Second Chance? again, and published a retraction on the show’s webpage on Thursday.
The corporation has also apologised for using the incorrect title for the Princess of Wales during coverage of Armistice Day.
A statement said: “During our coverage of memorials to commemorate Armistice Day we mistakenly referred to Catherine, Princess of Wales as Kate Middleton; these were errors during hours of live broadcasting for which we apologise.
“Throughout our Armistice Day coverage more broadly, we referred to Catherine by her correct title.”
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The bloke that led the charge attacking his capitol upset that he is painted doing what he did.
hows the trump involved with Epstein coverup going.
Both Trump and BBC are unreliable and deal in disinformation. It is Republican on Tory conflict. Can they both lose please?
If he did manage to get any of his defamation cases to court, he knows all of his insurrection cry baby act will come out and who knows the judge may uncover something that was missed.
This case may be far more about politicians v media than the facts.
Trump loves publicity, so this case will rumble on and on while his management of the USA economy will go unreported.
The BBC was accidentally impartial on royal matters for a moment and now it has to apologise for not having its usual pro-monarchy bias.
If Trump sues the BBC he’s sueing us all – those that finance the corporation. Most people here already detest him now they’ll despise him too. However, the BBC calling poor old Kate, Middleton, but disregarding the majority of people in Cymru who don’t consider her to be the princess of Wales is a joke.