I have the right to sue the BBC: Trump

US President Donald Trump has said he has the right to sue the BBC over the way a portion of his speech was edited in the BBC's 'Panorama documentary'. He said this in an interview with Fox News. News - BBC

Trump said his January 6, 2021 speech was 'cruelly distorted'. The way it was presented deceived the audience.

This is the first time Trump has commented publicly on the issue. Earlier, his lawyers had sent a letter to the BBC saying that if the organization did not retract the portion, formally apologize and pay compensation, Trump would sue for one billion dollars (759 million pounds).

BBC Chairman Samir Shah had previously apologized for the editing incident, calling it an 'error of judgment'. President Trump was asked on Fox News' The Ingraham Angle if he would really sue the BBC. In response, Trump said, “I think I have to, you know, why would I? Because they lied to the people—and they admitted to it.”

Trump added, “They actually changed my speech on January 6th—which was a beautiful, peaceful speech. But they edited it to make it look like it was a radical speech. They really changed it, which is absolutely incredible.”

The Fox News interview was recorded on Monday (November 10), but the BBC portion was not released in the United States until Tuesday night (November 11).

Earlier, the BBC received a letter from Trump’s lawyers on Sunday. The letter demanded a full and fair withdrawal of the “Panorama documentary,” a formal apology, and appropriate compensation for Trump.

Meanwhile, the BBC said it would respond in due course.