BBC apologises to Trump over Panorama, but rejects $1bn claim

The BBC has apologised to President Trump over the editing of a video clip for a Panorama programme that led to the resignation of its director general, Tim Davie, and BBC News chief, Deborah Turness.

- Tara Conlan, Michael Savage

However, the corporation has rejected demands for compensation, after lawyers for the US president threatened to sue for $1bn (£760m) in damages unless the BBC issued a retraction, apologised and settled with him. The BBC agreed not to show the edition of Panorama again.

"Lawyers for the BBC have written to President Trump's legal team in response to a letter received on Sunday," a BBC spokesperson said. "BBC chair Samir Shah has separately sent a personal letter to the White House making clear to President Trump that he and the corporation are sorry for the edit of the president's speech on 6 January 2021, which featured in the programme. The BBC has no plans to rebroadcast the documentary Trump: A Second Chance? on any BBC platforms. While the BBC sincerely regrets the manner in which the video clip was edited, we strongly disagree there is a basis for a defamation claim."

The BBC has been considering how to respond to the legal claim since Trump's angry reaction to reports on the editing of the programme.

However, it is thought that the corporation has been advised that it has a strong legal case. It remains to be seen how Trump will now respond.