Donald Trump has threatened the BBC with a $1billion law suit amid claims the broadcaster edited a speech by the US President.
In letter to the broadcaster, Mr Trump's lawyer, Alejandro Brito, set out a number of demands following allegations it had edited a speech by the President in an episode of Panorama broadcast the week before last year's US election.
The letter, seen by Fox News, demands "a full and fair retraction" of the documentary and "any and all other false, defamatory, disparaging, misleading, and inflammatory statements about President Trump in as conspicuous a manner as they were originally published", as well as an apology and compensation
It concludes that if the BBC does not comply by November 14 at 5pm EST, President Trump "will be left with no alternative but to enforce his legal and equitable rights, all of which are expressly reserved and are not waived, including by filing legal action for no less than $1billion [around £759,750,000] in damages".
The BBC confirmed it has received a letter from the US President and will "respond directly in due course".
Chairman of the broadcaster, Samir Shah, said earlier today it had received communication from President Trump over the editing of the documentary, but did not confirm he had threatened to sue.
He said: “We are now considering how to reply to him."
A 19-page leaked report compiled by Michael Prescott, former external advisor to the BBC’s editorial guidelines and standards committee (EGSC), claimed the corporation had spliced clips together from sections of the US president’s speech on January 6, 2021, to make it appear he told supporters he was going to walk to the US Capitol with them to "fight like hell".
Two of the BBC's most senior figures - chief executive of BBC News Deborah Turness and director-general Tim Davie – resigned on Sunday amid the allegations.
Following news of their resignations, President Trump wrote to Truth Social: "The TOP people in the BBC, including TIM DAVIE, the BOSS, are all quitting/FIRED, because they were caught 'doctoring' my very good (PERFECT!) speech of January 6.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Donald Trump has threatened legal action against the BBC
|GETTY
"Thank you to The Telegraph for exposing these Corrupt 'Journalists'.
"These are very dishonest people who tried to step on the scales of a Presidential Election.
"On top of everything else, they are from a Foreign Country, one that many consider our Number One Ally. What a terrible thing for Democracy!"
Responding to Mr Trump, the White House's Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, wrote to X: "BBC News is dying because they are anti-Trump fake news.
"Everyone should watch GB News!"
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage revealed he spoke to Mr Trump about the BBC on Friday, telling a press conference in London: "He just said to me is this how you treat your best ally.
"Quite a powerful comment isn't it. There has been too much going for too long."
Broadcaster chair Mr Shah said the BBC would like to apologise for an "error of judgement" over the editing of President Trump's speech.
Samir Shah said the BBC would like to apologise for an 'error of judgement' over the editing of the speech
|PA
Responding to a letter from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Mr Shah said there have been more than 500 complaints since the publication of Mr Prescott’s memo, adding: "We accept that the way the speech was edited did give the impression of a direct call for violent action."
Mr Shah said it is "simply not true" that Mr Prescott "uncovered" issues that the BBC has sought to "bury".
He added: "The issues raised by Mr Prescott are precisely the issues that have been considered by the EGSC and the Board."
"There is another view that has gained currency in the coverage that the BBC has done nothing to tackle these problems," he continued.
"That is also simply not true."
Downing Street has insisted the BBC is not corrupt or institutionally biased amid growing criticism
| GETTYThe Prime Minister's official spokesman has insisted the BBC is not corrupt or institutionally biased amid growing criticism.
He said: "On the question of is the BBC corrupt?: No. The BBC has a vital role in an age of disinformation… where there’s a clear argument for a robust, impartial British news service to deliver, and that case is stronger than ever.
"I think I’ve already addressed some of the comments that have been made over the last 24 hours, but we are of the view that it’s important that the BBC acts swiftly to maintain trust and correct mistakes quickly when they occur."
The spokesman was also asked if Sir Keir Starmer believed the the broadcaster was institutionally biased, as claimed by Mr Farage, to which he replied: "No, but it is important that the BBC acts to maintain trust and correct mistakes quickly when they occur, because as I say, for any public service broadcaster, accountability is vital to maintain trust."