BBC under pressure after Donald Trump's threat to sue. The station responds to the allegations
Donald Trump, known for his harsh criticism of the media, this time directed his accusations against the British BBC television. The conflict flared up after the publication of a report by Michael Prescott, an independent adviser to the BBC's Editorial Guidelines and Standards Board, which revealed cases of bias and manipulation in the station's material. The allegations included, among others: biased coverage of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and manipulated video of Trump's speech on January 6, 2021. The “Panorama” program presented his statement in a way that suggested that the president incited the riot at the Capitol, omitting the part in which he called for peaceful protests.
The rest of the article below the video:
Under pressure from public opinion and the British opposition, the director general of the BBC, Tim Davie, resigned, at the same time accusing the station's critics of escalating the conflict. Meanwhile, BBC presenter Nick Robinson admitted that “most” board members recognize the problem of bias in the station's production.
Donald Trump goes to court
In this situation, Donald Trump's lawyers decided to act. According to the Daily Telegraph, the BBC received notice of its intention to file a civil lawsuit. The president's lawyer, Alejandro Brito, demanded an apology, correction of the program and compensation for the damage caused.
Although, according to the Telegraph, the BBC is ready to apologize, the station's lawyers are still working on a response.
Meanwhile, Trump said in an interview with Fox News, that he felt “obligated” to file a lawsuit because, he said, the BBC had “deceived the public”. The president also suggested that a possible trial could take place in the state of Florida, where he lives. In the US, the time limit for bringing a defamation lawsuit is two years, while in the UK such a lawsuit would no longer be possible due to the passage of time.
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However, legal experts have doubts as to the president's success in American courts. Professor Lyrissa Barnett Lidsky from the University of Florida noted that Donald Trump would have to prove that the BBC knowingly or recklessly misled viewers, which could be difficult. Additionally, according to Lidsky, the president may have problems justifying the requested amount of compensation.
Donald Trump on the warpath with the media
This is not the first time Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against the media. In October 2024, during the presidential campaign, he sued the Paramount media group for $20 billion for allegedly manipulating his statements. The case ended with a settlement in which the station agreed to pay him $16 million.
However, as Professor Milton Mueller of the Georgia Institute of Technology noted, the decision to settle resulted from a desire to avoid legal costs and potential repercussions from the presidential administration, rather than an acknowledgment of the merits of the claims.
In the past, Trump has repeatedly accused the media of bias and spreading false information, calling it “fake news.” In 2024, he also filed a defamation lawsuit against the New York Times, accusing it of trying to undermine his presidential candidacy.. The newspaper described the move as an “attempt to suppress independent journalism.”
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Donald Trump's relationship with the media has remained tense since his first presidential campaign in 2016. His accusations of bias and media manipulation were met with response from conservative commentators, who accused the media of creating “apocryphal versions” of his statements. Faced with declining trust in traditional media, Trump and his supporters are increasingly using alternative communication channels, such as podcasts and social media.
