Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a legal threat to the BBC, demanding $1 billion in damages over a documentary he claims contains ‘false, defamatory, disparaging, and inflammatory statements’ about him. Trump’s legal team has called for a full retraction, a public apology, and compensation for reputational and financial harm allegedly caused by the Panorama programme, which aired in the UK ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The documentary reportedly edited Trump’s speech to suggest he explicitly encouraged the January 2021 Capitol Hill riot. A leaked memo from a former BBC adviser criticized the editing as misleading. BBC Chairman Samir Shah acknowledged an ‘error of judgement,’ while outgoing Director General Tim Davie admitted to an ‘editorial breach.’ However, legal experts argue that Trump faces significant hurdles in winning such a lawsuit, particularly under U.S. defamation laws, which require proof of ‘actual malice.’ Trump has indicated plans to file the lawsuit in Florida, where the statute of limitations is more favorable, but he must also demonstrate that the documentary caused substantial harm and was accessible in the state. The BBC could argue that Florida lacks jurisdiction due to insufficient exposure of the content there. Trump has a history of suing media organizations, often securing settlements, but critics view these actions as attempts to intimidate the press. The BBC has yet to respond to Trump’s demands, with a deadline set for November 14.