The BBC has formally apologised to former US President Donald Trump for an edited segment in a Panorama documentary, admitting it made a significant error of judgment. The broadcaster, however, has firmly rejected a $1 billion defamation claim from Mr Trump.
The Apology and the Dispute
In a statement released on Thursday, 13 November 2025, a BBC spokesperson confirmed that Chairman Samir Shah had sent a personal letter of apology to the White House. The corporation expressed sincere regret for the way a clip of a Trump speech was edited in the episode titled Trump: A Second Chance.
The BBC stated that the programme will not be broadcast again in this form on any BBC platforms. Despite the apology, the broadcaster stood its ground on the legal threat, asserting, we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim.
Leadership Fallout and Allegations
The controversy has already triggered a major leadership crisis within the BBC. Both BBC director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness have resigned as a direct result of the scandal.
The edit in question was accused of making it appear that Donald Trump directly encouraged his supporters to storm the US Capitol later on the same day. This allegation placed the national broadcaster under intense scrutiny and led to the high-level departures.
A Billion-Dollar Ultimatum
The apology comes after Donald Trump threatened to sue the BBC for $1 billion. He had given the corporation a deadline of that Friday to issue a full retraction, apologise, and provide compensation for what he claimed was harm caused by the broadcast.
While the BBC met two of those demands by retracting the programme and offering an apology, it has drawn a line at the enormous financial claim, setting the stage for a potential legal battle.
