US President Donald Trump says he feels a “duty” to take legal action against a British broadcaster for editing his 6 January 2021 speech in a documentary. He told Fox News that the edit had “butchered” his words and “deceived” the audience. It is the first time he has spoken publicly about the dispute since his legal team warned of a $1 billion lawsuit unless the organisation retracts the film, apologises, and compensates him.
Trump says public was misled
In his appearance on The Ingraham Angle, Trump confirmed he plans to move forward with the case. “Well, I guess I have to,” he said. “They deceived the public, and they admitted it.” He called his address on 6 January “a beautiful, calming speech” and accused editors of turning it into something extreme. “They actually changed it,” he said. “What they did was incredible.”
When pressed again, he said, “I think I have an obligation to do it. You can’t allow people to do that.” The interview was recorded Monday, but Fox News released the part about the British broadcaster only on Tuesday night.
Lawyers demand apology and payment
The company received a letter from Trump’s lawyers on Sunday. It calls for a full and fair retraction, a public apology, and compensation for the harm caused. The letter sets a deadline of 22:00 GMT on Friday for a response. The broadcaster said it will reply in due course, while its news team declined to comment on Trump’s remarks.
Trump’s record of media battles
Since his return to the White House, Trump has made legal threats against several outlets. He reached settlements with CBS News and ABC News after large payouts and has also pursued action against The New York Times.
How the editing controversy began
The disputed footage appeared in a Panorama documentary aired shortly before the November 2024 US presidential election. It sparked limited reaction until The Daily Telegraph published a leaked internal memo last week. The memo, written by a former adviser to the broadcaster’s editorial standards committee, warned that the edit could make it seem as though Trump had urged the Capitol riot.
In his actual speech, Trump said: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol, and we’re going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women.” But the documentary joined together two parts of the speech spoken more than 50 minutes apart. The final version showed him saying: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol… and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.”
Leadership fallout and resignations
The controversy forced the director general, Tim Davie, and the head of news, Deborah Turness, to resign. Both defended their leadership and insisted that the organisation remains committed to fairness. During a staff meeting, Davie admitted that “mistakes were made” but said, “We need to fight for our reputation.” He added: “This narrative will not just be given by our critics, it’s our own story too.”
He said the broadcaster had faced “difficult times” but continued to “do good work that speaks louder than any newspaper or political attack.” Neither Davie nor the organisation’s chair mentioned Trump’s lawsuit during their internal address.
Government refuses to step in
Downing Street said the dispute is for the broadcaster to handle. “It is not for the government to comment on ongoing legal matters,” the prime minister’s spokesperson said.
Charter renewal and political scrutiny
The legal row comes as the organisation faces a crucial review of its royal charter, which expires at the end of 2027. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy will lead the renewal talks. Speaking in Parliament, she said the process would “renew its mission for the modern age” and ensure the broadcaster is “genuinely accountable.”
She added: “There’s a difference between raising concerns over editorial failings and attacking the institution itself. This broadcaster is not just a media outlet; it is a national institution that belongs to us all.”
Lawmakers to question senior figures
The culture select committee will summon key figures including chair Samir Shah and board members Sir Robbie Gibb and Caroline Thomson. Michael Prescott, the former standards adviser who wrote the leaked memo, will also be asked to testify.
Reform UK pulls out of documentary project
Separately, an internal Reform UK email revealed the party is ending its cooperation with a documentary about its rise. The message said the production team had received “unprecedented access” to senior members but should now withdraw consent for any footage to be used, citing the ongoing Trump dispute.
