London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – BBC Chairman Samir Shah has vowed to challenge US President Donald Trump’s $5bn lawsuit, insisting there is no basis for a defamation case.
As reported by The Telegraph, Samir Shah has assured staff that the corporation will fight Donald Trump’s legal action over the edited speech.
The BBC controversy erupted after a dossier revealed it had edited a speech by President Donald Trump, prompting the resignations of Director-General Tim Davie and News Head Deborah Turness.
What did Samir Shah say about Donald Trump’s $5bn lawsuit?
Samir Shah insisted there is “no basis for a defamation case” after Donald Trump threatened a $5bn lawsuit, despite the broadcaster’s apology for Panorama’s speech edit.
In an email witnessed by Sky News, Mr Shah wrote,
“There is a lot being written, said and speculated upon about the possibility of legal action, including potential costs or settlements.”
He said,
“In all this we are, of course, acutely aware of the privilege of our funding and the need to protect our licence-fee payers, the British public.”
Mr Shah added,
“I want to be very clear with you our position has not changed. There is no basis for a defamation case and we are determined to fight this.”
In his email, he praised the BBC’s team, stating he was “immensely proud” of their “vital work” and ongoing commitment to essential daily reporting.
Mr Shah went on,
“Last week I took the opportunity to speak with the Executive team and am reassured of their resolute focus on ensuring the BBC continues to deliver on behalf of audiences and staff.”
He continued,
“I know they plan to spend as much time as possible with their teams over the coming weeks to reinforce the importance of that work and answer your questions.”
Mr Shah expressed gratitude to staff for their “continued commitment and focus” and highlighted their contribution to BBC Children in Need, which raised £45.5m.
What did Donald Trump say about suing the BBC over edited speech?
Donald Trump confirmed plans to take legal action over the BBC episode.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, President Trump said he intends to file a $1bn to $5bn lawsuit against the BBC.
He stated,
“I think I have to do it. They’ve even admitted that they cheated… They changed the words coming out of my mouth.”
Mr Trump added,
“The people of the UK are very angry about what happened, as you can imagine, because it shows the BBC is fake news.”
He had stated in his speech,
“We’re going to walk down to the Capitol, and we’re going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women. And we fight. We fight like hell.”
In Panorama’s edit, Mr Trump appeared to say,
“We’re going to walk down to the Capitol… and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.”
How did Number 10 respond to the BBC-Donald Trump legal row?
Commenting on the ongoing dispute between the BBC and President Trump, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesperson said,
“It’s clearly not for the Government to comment on any ongoing legal matters.”
When asked if the government would back the BBC financially in Trump’s case, a Number 10 spokesperson replied,
“That’s a hypothetical question. Again, it’s not for the government to comment on any ongoing legal matters.”
He added,
“Our position is clear: The BBC is independent and it’s for the corporation to respond to questions about their editorial decisions and, more broadly, we have a close relationship with the US on shared priorities, including security.”
Downing Street highlighted the “very strong” UK-US relationship, but declined to say if Mr Trump’s legal row with the BBC had any impact.
The prime minister also faces calls from Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey to urge Trump to “drop his ludicrous BBC lawsuit,” saying Mr Starmer has a chance to “stand up” for Britain.
What happened during the January 6 Capitol riot?
The “Capitol riot” typically refers to the January 6, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol building. They aimed to disrupt the certification of the 2020 election results, claiming Joe Biden won fraudulently.
The violent breach resulted in extensive property damage, injuries to law enforcement officers and rioters, and the deaths of several individuals. This created a nationwide crisis.
