Labour MP Stephen Kinnock urged the BBC to "stick by their guns" after former President Donald Trump sued the broadcaster, alleging an edited clip of his Jan. 6, 2021 remarks was defamatory. The BBC has apologized for the edits, pulled its October 2024 documentary Trump: A Second Chance?, and said there is no case to answer on libel. Trump is seeking $5 billion and accuses the BBC of attempting to influence the 2024 election.
UK Lawmaker Backs BBC Against $5B Trump Defamation Suit Over Jan. 6 Edit
A British lawmaker on Tuesday urged the BBC to stand its ground in a new legal battle with former President Donald Trump, who has sued the broadcaster over an edited excerpt of his Jan. 6, 2021 remarks that aired in an October 2024 documentary.
Labour MP Stephen Kinnock told Sky News that while the BBC "made some mistakes" in the edited clip, the broadcaster was right to defend the broader point it was making and should remain independent.
"I think it's right that the BBC stands firm on that point," Kinnock told Sky's Mornings. "Yes, there were some mistakes made in that particular piece of film, but I think the broader argument they were making — they're right to stick by their guns on that and I hope that they will continue to do so as an independent organization."
The BBC has apologized for the edits and informed the White House that it will not rebroadcast the documentary, titled Trump: A Second Chance? At the same time, the corporation has maintained that there is "no case to answer" on the broader libel or defamation allegations.
Trump's lawsuit claims the BBC "maliciously, falsely, and defamatorily" made it appear he explicitly called for violent action and rioting before the Capitol attack. The complaint seeks $5 billion in damages and accuses the broadcaster of attempting to influence the 2024 presidential election.
The dispute centers on a contrast between a line used in the documentary — "We're going down to the Capitol, and I'll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell" — and a fuller version of Trump’s remarks given that day, in which he spoke about "walking down to the Capitol" and "cheering on" lawmakers while urging strength and challenging the counting of electors.
Supporters of the BBC argue the organisation plays a vital role in informing the public and must be able to defend editorial judgments; critics say broadcasters must avoid misleading edits on matters of public safety and political consequence. The lawsuit sets up a high-profile transatlantic legal contest over media accountability, editorial judgment and the standards for defamation in political reporting.
