Former President Donald Trump has initiated a defamation lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), seeking $10 billion in damages. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Miami, stems from the BBC's October 2024 documentary titled "Trump: A Second Chance?" which Trump alleges misrepresented his comments during a speech on January 6, 2021, prior to the Capitol riot.

The 33-page complaint asserts that the documentary presented a "false, defamatory, deceptive, inflammatory, and malicious depiction" of Trump, particularly by editing his speech in a way that suggested he encouraged violence. Trump claims that the editing spliced together clips from his speech, omitting his calls for peace and creating a misleading impression of his intentions.

In November, the BBC acknowledged an editing mistake, describing it as an "error of judgment" and issued an apology. However, the BBC maintains that there is no valid basis for Trump's defamation claim, arguing that the documentary did not air in the United States and is not available on its streaming services. Trump's legal team contends that U.S. subscribers to BritBox or users of virtual private networks (VPNs) could have accessed the content, thus providing grounds for the lawsuit.

The lawsuit includes one count of defamation and one count of violating Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Trump's legal team argues that the documentary may have influenced voters in Florida, where the BBC reportedly has a significant audience. Legal experts have noted potential challenges for Trump's case, particularly regarding the First Amendment protections for free speech and the requirement to demonstrate that the BBC acted with "actual malice."

This legal action is part of a broader pattern of lawsuits Trump has filed against various media outlets, reflecting ongoing tensions between political figures and the media regarding the portrayal of events and statements. The implications of such lawsuits raise questions about journalistic practices and the freedom of the press, particularly in the context of electoral politics.