British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) to “get its house in order” following threats of legal action from US President Donald Trump. The dispute stems from the BBC’s editing of footage from a 2021 Trump speech.
Starmer addressed the issue in Parliament on Wednesday, responding to a question about whether he would ask Trump to drop his threat to sue the BBC for $1 billion. The BBC is funded by a mandatory license fee paid by British households that watch television.
“Let me be clear, I believe in a strong and independent BBC,” Starmer stated, adding, “Some would prefer there wasn’t a BBC, including some who are sitting there,” gesturing toward opposing Conservative members of Parliament. He continued, “When mistakes are made, they (the BBC) need to get their house in order.”
The BBC has faced increasing scrutiny and attacks from right-wing media outlets in recent weeks, particularly concerning its coverage of the Israeli war in Gaza. Critics have accused the broadcaster of bias in favor of Palestinians. This pressure led to the resignation of both the Director-General and the Head of News at the BBC.
On Monday, the BBC acknowledged that its editing of the Trump speech footage constituted a “lapse in judgment.” A BBC spokesperson stated that the corporation would respond directly to Trump’s threat “in due course,” noting his commitment to suing the broadcaster.
Trump’s lawyers have demanded that the BBC withdraw the documentary containing the edited footage by Friday and issue an apology, or face legal action. The documentary, which aired before last year’s US election, spliced together three segments of a Trump speech. Critics allege that this created the impression that Trump was inciting the riots that occurred on January 6, 2021.
Since returning to the presidency in January 2025, Trump has been accused of filing numerous lawsuits to suppress criticism in American media. This latest legal threat against the BBC underscores the ongoing tension between the media and powerful political figures.
The situation remains fluid, and DZWatch will continue to provide updates as they become available.
