Trump’s lawsuit against the BBC faces these ‘legal trip wires’ if he hopes to win $1bn
Donald Trump would face legal hurdles in launching a $1bn lawsuit against the BBC over “defamatory” statements on Panorama, partly because the documentary may not have been aired in the United States.
Under defamation laws in Florida, where the US president has threatened to launch his case, Trump: A Second Chance? must have been available to view in the state for a lawsuit for damages to be filed.
If it wasn’t shown on iPlayer in the US, or on the broadcaster’s global feed, media lawyer Mark Stephens said it could create an early stumbling block for the US president, reports my colleague Alex Ross.
Namita Singh13 November 2025 08:00
Keir Starmer breaks silence on Donald Trump’s threat to sue BBC for $1bn
Keir Starmer breaks silence on Donald Trump’s threat to sue BBC for $1bn
Sir Keir Starmer urged the BBC to “get its house in order” following Donald Trump’s threat to sue the corporation for $1billion lawsuit. The prime minister was urged by Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey to tell the US president to drop his demand during PMQs on Wednesday (12 November), stating that Mr Trump is “trying to destory our BBC”. Sir Keir responded by saying he believes in a “strong and independent BBC”, but admitted the corporation “needs to get their house in order” when “mistakes are made”. “The BBC must uphold the highest standards, be accountable and correct errors quickly.”
Namita Singh13 November 2025 07:00
Who is Robbie Gibb, the man at the heart of the BBC scandal with links to Boris Johnson?
BBC staff and leading political figures are calling for Robbie Gibb to step down from the BBC board.
So, who is the Tory ‘agent’ at the centre of a tangled web of politics and media interests, asks Katie Rosseinsky
Namita Singh13 November 2025 06:03
Who are the 10 people tasked with appointing new director-general at BBC
One board member, Sir Robbie Gibb, faced sharp criticism in the Commons on Wednesday.
However, Starmer declined to comment on “the individual runnings of the BBC”.
The BBC board, which is led by non-executive chairman Samir Shah, comprises 10 members, with the director-general also serving on the board and chairing the executive committee.
Who are they? Read here:
Namita Singh13 November 2025 05:00
Voices: The four-word message the BBC should send Trump about his $1bn lawsuit
The American broadcast media has capitulated in the face of Trump’s legal claims. It’s time the BBC showed they will not be cowed and call the president’s bluff, writes Alan Rusbridger
Namita Singh13 November 2025 04:40
BBC right to take Trump legal threat ‘seriously’ says media lawyer
BBC right to take Trump sue threat ‘seriously’ says media lawyer
The BBC is right in taking Donald Trump’s threat to sue “seriously,” a media lawyer has warned. The US president has threatened to seek $1 billion from the corporation over a Panorama documentary episode he claims “defamed” him by selectively editing his 6 January 2021 speech. In an exclusive interview with The Independent, media lawyer Rupert Cowper-Coles explained the BBC is right to take the lawsuit “seriously,” adding that it would be concerning if British media organisations were ever subjected to a damages award anywhere “close to” the figure presented by Trump’s legal team. However, the US president may face difficulties in suing the corporation over “defamatory” statements on Panorama, partly because the documentary may not have been aired in the United States.
Namita Singh13 November 2025 04:22
Ed Davey hits out at Trump $1bn BBC legal threat
Athena Stavrou13 November 2025 04:00
Scandal-hit BBC more vulnerable now than ever, says former boss
A former BBC chief has warned the under-fire public broadcaster was more vulnerable now than he had ever known it in the face of the current crisis.
While acknowledging the editing of a speech by Donald Trump, which has prompted the US president to threaten a billion-dollar lawsuit, was “wrong and damaging”, Lord Hall of Birkenhead echoed remarks there was “no institutional bias” at the corporation.
The independent crossbencher, who served as director-general of the BBC from 2013-2020, also called for an end to the once-a-decade process of reviewing the broadcaster’s deal or charter, which he suggested was used as a way of “upsetting” the organisation.
He argued halting the need for future renewals would strengthen the corporation’s independence and be “an amazing legacy from this government”.
Namita Singh13 November 2025 03:39
The four-word message the BBC should send Trump about his $1bn lawsuit
Athena Stavrou13 November 2025 03:20
Recap: Davie explains his departure
While speaking to staff on a call on Tuesday morning, outgoing director general Tim Davie gave three key reasons for his departure.
BBC News reported he said the relentlessness of the role, the upcoming Charter renewal and criticism of the Panorama documentary on Trump were all contributing factors.
Athena Stavrou13 November 2025 03:00
