The British broadcaster BBC has formally apologized to the White House for the way it edited a clip of President Trump\u2019s speech on January 6, 2021 \u2014 the day before the Capitol attack. The apology comes just days after President Trump\u2019s legal team threatened the BBC with a $1 billion lawsuit over the segment, which appeared in a documentary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to a BBC spokesperson, \u201cLawyers for the BBC have written to President Trump\u2019s legal team in response to a letter received on Sunday.\u201d The BBC added: \u201cChair [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\u2019s speech on 6 January 2021, which featured in the programme.\u201d The BBC also confirmed that there are no plans to rebroadcast the documentary Trump: A Second Chance?<\/em> on any of its platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The broadcaster acknowledged that \u201cthe way the speech was edited did give the impression of a direct call for violent action,\u201d and referred to it as \u201can error in judgement.\u201d The BBC nonetheless stated that it strongly disagrees there is a valid defamation claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The specific clip in question showed Trump saying to his rally crowd: \u201cWe\u2019re going to walk down to the Capitol, and I\u2019ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.\u201d A fuller official transcript and video, however, show that Trump also told his supporters to march \u201cpeacefully and patriotically\u201d to the Capitol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n President Trump\u2019s lawsuit accuses the BBC of defamation, alleging the broadcaster caused \u201coverwhelming financial and reputational harm\u201d with the editing. With this apology, the BBC has taken a step toward mollifying the matter \u2014 but the threat of litigation remains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n