US President Donald Trump says he has a “duty” to take legal action against a British broadcaster for how it edited a section of his 6 January 2021 speech in a Panorama documentary. Speaking to Fox News, he accused the producers of having “butchered” his words and “deceived” viewers. It is his first public statement since his lawyers warned they would sue for $1 billion unless the organisation retracts the film, apologises, and compensates him.
Trump says speech was distorted
In an interview on The Ingraham Angle, Trump confirmed he plans to proceed with the lawsuit. “Well, I guess I have to,” he said. “They deceived the public, and they admitted it.” He described his speech as “a beautiful, calming address” and said the edit made it sound radical. “They actually changed it,” he continued. “What they did was unbelievable.”
When asked again about the case, Trump said, “I think I have an obligation to do it. You can’t allow people to do that.” The interview was recorded Monday, though Fox News only released the section about the broadcaster on Tuesday evening.
Lawyers issue demand for retraction and apology
Trump’s legal team sent a letter to the organisation on Sunday. It demanded a full retraction, an apology, and compensation for what it described as reputational damage. The letter set a deadline of 22:00 GMT on Friday for a response. The broadcaster said it will reply soon, while its news division declined to comment on Trump’s remarks.
Trump’s tense relationship with the media
Trump has long clashed with major media outlets. Since returning to the White House, he has repeatedly threatened legal action over coverage he considers false or misleading. He reached settlements with CBS News and ABC News after large payouts and has also targeted The New York Times in court.
How the editing controversy unfolded
The disputed edit appeared in a Panorama documentary broadcast shortly before the November 2024 US presidential election. It gained little notice until The Daily Telegraph published a leaked internal memo last week. The memo, written by a former adviser to the broadcaster’s editorial standards committee, said the edit could wrongly suggest Trump encouraged the Capitol riot.
In his original remarks, Trump said: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol, and we’re going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women.” In the edited version, producers combined two sections of the speech delivered more than 50 minutes apart. The result showed him saying: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol… and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.”
Leadership fallout inside the broadcaster
The controversy led to the resignation of director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness. Both defended their record and denied claims of political bias. Addressing staff, Davie admitted “mistakes were made” but urged the organisation to “stand strong.” He said: “This narrative won’t just be told by our critics—it’s ours to own.”
He added that despite the crisis, the organisation “continues to produce serious journalism that speaks louder than any political attack.” Neither Davie nor the chair mentioned Trump’s legal threat during their internal meeting.
Downing Street keeps distance from dispute
Downing Street described the issue as a matter for the broadcaster. “It’s not for the government to comment on ongoing legal proceedings,” said the prime minister’s spokesperson.
A critical moment for the national broadcaster
The row comes as the organisation faces renewal of its royal charter, which sets out its governance and funding, due to expire at the end of 2027. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy will oversee the talks. She told Parliament that the process would “renew its mission for the modern age” and guarantee a “genuinely accountable” broadcaster.
Nandy said: “There’s a difference between raising valid concerns about editorial failings and attacking the institution itself. This broadcaster isn’t just a media company—it’s a national institution that belongs to all of us.”
Lawmakers to question senior figures
The culture select committee will question senior executives, including chair Samir Shah and board members Sir Robbie Gibb and Caroline Thomson. Michael Prescott, the former adviser who wrote the leaked memo, will also be invited to testify.
Reform UK cuts ties over growing scandal
Separately, an internal Reform UK email confirmed the party has ended its cooperation with a documentary about its rise. The message said the production team had been given “unprecedented access” to senior members but should now withdraw consent for any footage to be used, citing the ongoing Trump dispute.
