BBC apologises to Donald Trump over editing of Panorama but says there isn't 'basis for defamation claim'

The BBC has apologised to Donald Trump over the editing of a speech in a Panorama programme in 2024.

The corporation said it was an "error of judgement" and the programme will "not be broadcast again in this form on any BBC platforms".

But it added that it "strongly" disagrees that there is "a basis for a defamation claim".

The White House has not offered comment, but instead told Sky News to direct questions to "the president's outside counsel on this matter". Sky News is awaiting a response from the President's counsel.

BBC Trump row latest: BBC apology may be better for Trump than a lawsuit

Donald Trump's legal team earlier revealed that the US president had not yet filed a lawsuit against the BBC over the
broadcaster's editing of a speech he made in 2021 on the day his supporters overran the Capitol building.

Legal experts have said that Trump would face challenges taking the case to court in the UK or the US.

Deadlines to bring the case in English courts, where defamation damages rarely exceed £100,000 ($132,000) expired more than a year ago.

Because the documentary was not shown in the US, it would be hard to show that Americans thought less of him because of a program they could not watch.

Despite this, Trump's legal team sent a letter over the weekend threatening to sue the BBC for $1bn and issuing three demands:

• Issue a "full and fair retraction" of the Panorama programme
• Apologise immediately
• "Appropriately compensate" the US president

On Sunday evening, two of the BBC's top figures, including the director-general, resigned amid the row over the edit and concerns about impartiality.

In a statement, the corporation said: "Lawyers for the BBC have written to President Trump's legal team in response to a letter received on Sunday.

"BBC Chair Samir Shah has separately sent a personal letter to the White House making clear to President Trump that he and the Corporation are sorry for the edit of the President's speech on 6 January 2021, which featured in the programme.

"The BBC has no plans to rebroadcast the documentary 'Trump: A Second Chance?' on any BBC platforms.

"While the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited, we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim."

On Thursday, the BBC said it was looking into fresh allegations, published in The Telegraph newspaper.

The Telegraph claims another BBC programme, Newsnight, also selectively edited footage of the same speech, in a report broadcast in June 2022, two years before Panorama's edit.

Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, on Thursday said the party had written Keir Starmer, calling on him to demand that Trump "drop his ludicrous one billion dollar lawsuit against the BBC".

(c) Sky News 2025: BBC apologises to Donald Trump over editing of Panorama but says there isn't 'basis for