The BBC has issued an apology to former US President Donald Trump for a misleading edit of one of his speeches but has firmly rejected any grounds for a defamation lawsuit. The controversy stems from a documentary aired in October 2024, which suggested Trump had directly incited ‘violent action’ before the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The broadcaster acknowledged the error, with BBC Chair Samir Shah sending a personal letter to Trump expressing regret. However, the BBC emphasized that it does not believe the incident justifies a defamation claim, as stated in a response to Trump’s legal team. The editing row has escalated, leading to the resignation of the BBC’s director-general and top news executive. The broadcaster is also investigating another instance of a misleading edit from June 2022, where phrases from Trump’s speech were spliced together to imply he urged supporters to ‘fight like hell.’ This controversy arises during a politically sensitive period for the BBC, as it prepares to renegotiate its Royal Charter, set to expire in 2027. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his government have been cautious, supporting the BBC’s independence while avoiding direct confrontation with Trump.