British Prime Minister Keir Starmer avoided addressing whether he would intervene in the escalating legal dispute between former U.S. President Donald Trump and the BBC during a parliamentary session on Wednesday. The controversy stems from the BBC’s editing of a speech Trump made following the 2020 presidential election, which Trump claims misrepresented his words and defamed him. Trump has threatened to sue the broadcaster for $1 billion unless it retracts the documentary and issues an apology by Friday. When pressed by Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey to clarify his stance, Starmer emphasized his support for a strong and independent BBC but acknowledged the need for accountability when mistakes occur. The BBC has faced internal turmoil, with Director-General Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness resigning over accusations of biased editing. BBC Chairman Samir Shah has since apologized for the misleading edit, which portrayed Trump’s speech as a direct call for violence. The dispute highlights the challenges faced by traditional media in an era of polarized politics and shifting viewer habits.
UK’s Starmer refuses to say whether he will urge Trump to drop his $1 billion BBC threat
