The BBC has said it will defend itself against a lawsuit seeking up to $10 billion (£7.4bn) in damages filed by former US President Donald Trump over an edited clip of his 6 January 2021 speech used in a Panorama documentary.

According to court documents filed in Florida, Trump has accused the British public broadcaster of defamation and violations of US trade practices law, claiming the edit falsely suggested he directly called for violence ahead of the US Capitol riot.

The BBC apologised last month for the edit but rejected Trump’s demand for compensation, saying there is no legal basis for a defamation claim. A BBC spokesperson said the corporation would defend the case and would not comment further due to ongoing legal proceedings.

In his January 6 speech, Trump told supporters they would walk down to the Capitol and cheer on lawmakers. More than 50 minutes later in the same address, he said, “We fight like hell.” The Panorama program edited the two remarks together, creating the impression that Trump made a direct call for violent action. The BBC later acknowledged the edit gave a “mistaken impression” but maintained it did not amount to defamation.

The documentary, titled “Trump: A Second Chance?”, aired in the UK just days before the 2024 US presidential election, a timing cited in Trump’s legal filing as politically sensitive.

An internal BBC review later criticised how the speech was edited. The controversy led to the resignations of the BBC’s director general and head of news, intensifying scrutiny of the broadcaster’s editorial standards and internal oversight.

Trump’s lawsuit also argues the documentary was accessible in the United States through licensing arrangements, virtual private networks and streaming platforms, despite the BBC maintaining that the program was broadcast only in the UK and restricted on BBC iPlayer.

The UK government said any legal action was a matter for the BBC, while reiterating support for a strong and independent public broadcaster that maintains public trust through accurate reporting.

The lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal actions Trump has taken against media organizations. Legal experts note that defamation cases in the United States are difficult to win, particularly against news outlets, due to the high legal threshold required. The case will now proceed in a Florida court.