President Trump has announced that he will ultimately take legal action against the BBC over the way his speech was edited in an episode of the programme Panorama, seeking damages of between one and five billion dollars.
The BBC’s written apology and its withdrawal of the disputed documentary from all of the broadcaster’s platforms do not appear to have satisfied the American President. Late last night, while aboard Air Force One, he told the journalists travelling with him that he would, after all, take the matter to court. “I think I have to. They cheated me. They changed the words coming out of my mouth,” he said, among other remarks.
From the outset, in a letter he sent to the BBC earlier this week, the US President had set out three conditions in order to avoid legal action: first, that the organisation retract the report; second, that it apologise; and third, that it compensate him. The reply sent by the BBC’s legal department on Thursday satisfied two of those conditions.
According to reports, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to speak with President Trump over the weekend. The conversation is eagerly anticipated, as British analysts note it may indicate whether there is any scope for compromise between the two sides that could prevent the case ending up in court - even though the UK Government is not directly involved in the dispute.