The BBC has confirmed that its chairman, Samir Shah, sent a personal letter to US President Donald Trump apologising for a misleading edit of one of his speeches.
However, the broadcaster insists that the mistake does not amount to defamation and cannot justify Trump’s threatened $1 billion lawsuit.
The controversy erupted after a BBC “Panorama” documentary aired last year appeared to show Trump directly urging “violent action” shortly before his supporters stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The edit sparked intense backlash, culminating in the resignation of the BBC’s director-general and its head of news on Sunday.
The corporation also announced that it is now investigating a second instance in which a Trump speech may have been edited incorrectly.
According to The Telegraph, a June 2022 “Newsnight” report stitched together lines from different parts of Trump’s address to make it seem as though he encouraged supporters to head to the Capitol and “fight like hell.”
The BBC said it is examining the new allegation, adding, “This matter has been brought to our attention, and we are now looking into it.”
Despite apologising, the broadcaster maintains that the incident cannot be the basis for a defamation suit.
“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,” it said.
BBC lawyers have also responded formally to Trump’s legal team.
The scandal comes at a delicate moment for the organisation. The BBC is preparing for negotiations on its Royal Charter, which governs its structure and editorial obligations, and expires in 2027.
The UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has been cautious publicly supporting the broadcaster’s independence while avoiding a confrontation with Trump.
The issue has intensified political pressure on the BBC at home and deepened scrutiny of its editorial practices, especially in coverage of divisive political figures.
