News has confirmed it will defend itself against a $5 billion (£3.7bn) defamation lawsuit filed by U.S. President Donald Trump over the editing of his January 6, 2021 speech in a Panorama documentary.
Trump filed the case in Florida, accusing news of defamation and violations of trade practices laws. Although the broadcaster previously issued an apology for the edit, it refused to pay compensation and rejected claims that it had defamed the president.
News Rejects Claims of Malicious Editing
Trump’s legal team alleges that news deliberately altered his speech in a way that falsely suggested he encouraged violence ahead of the U.S. Capitol riot.
In response, a news spokesperson said the organization would strongly contest the case. The spokesperson added that news would not comment further while legal proceedings are ongoing.
Last month, news acknowledged that the edited clip created a “mistaken impression” that Trump directly called for violent action. However, it maintained that the error did not meet the legal threshold for defamation.
What the Speech Edit Changed
During his January 6 speech, Trump told supporters they would walk to the Capitol and “cheer on” lawmakers. Nearly an hour later, he used the phrase “we fight like hell.”
The Panorama documentary edited those remarks together, making it appear as though Trump delivered the statements consecutively. As a result, critics argued the edit implied a more direct call to violence.
Despite this, news insists there was no intent to mislead viewers.
Lawsuit Claims and Distribution Dispute
Trump argues that the documentary harmed his reputation. However, lawyers for news say the claim lacks merit, noting that Trump was re-elected shortly after the programme aired.
They also argue that news did not broadcast the Panorama documentary in the United States. While the programme was available on its streaming platform, access was limited to UK viewers only.
Still, Trump’s lawsuit claims that Florida residents may have watched the documentary using VPN services or through BritBox. The lawsuit also references alleged third-party distribution agreements outside the UK, which news has not yet addressed.
Political Reaction in the UK
A Downing Street spokesperson said the legal dispute is a matter for news, while reaffirming support for an independent public broadcaster that reports without fear or favour.
Meanwhile, Shadow culture secretary Nigel Huddleston warned that the lawsuit could ultimately impact licence fee payers. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to raise concerns directly with Trump, calling the lawsuit “unacceptable.”
Internal Fallout at News
An internal memo leaked last November criticized how the speech was edited. The fallout led to the resignations of news director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness, marking one of the broadcaster’s most serious internal crises in recent years.
Despite the controversy, news maintains it will fight the lawsuit and stand by its legal position.
