Reuters — US President Donald Trump sued the BBC for up to $10 billion in damages over edited clips of a speech that made it appear he directed supporters to storm the US Capitol, opening an international front in his fight against media coverage he deems untrue or unfair.

Trump accused Britain’s publicly owned broadcaster of defaming him by splicing together parts of a January 6, 2021, speech, including one section where he told supporters to march on the Capitol and another where he said “fight like hell.” It omitted a section in which he called for peaceful protest.

Trump’s lawsuit alleges the BBC defamed him and violated a Florida law that bars deceptive and unfair trade practices. He is seeking $5 billion in damages for each of the lawsuit’s two counts.

The BBC said it would defend the case and would not make any further comment.

It had previously apologized to Trump, admitted an error of judgment, and acknowledged that the edit gave the mistaken impression that he had made a direct call for violent action. But it has said there is no legal basis to sue.

British minister Stephen Kinnock said the BBC had apologized and said there were no grounds for legal action.

“It’s right that the BBC stands firm on that point,” he told Sky News on Tuesday.

Trump, in his lawsuit filed on Monday........

© The Times of Israel