Liz Truss Supports Trump’s Lawsuit Against BBC
Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss has voiced her support for Donald Trump’s intention to sue the BBC, claiming the network has “lied, cheated and manipulated footage.” This comes amid controversy surrounding an editing incident linked to the January 6, 2021, speech by Trump.
The BBC stands accused of merging two segments of Trump’s speech, omitting his call to “march peacefully and patriotically” and instead inserting a phrase that emphasized “fight like hell” about an hour later. This, understandably, has stirred outrage.
Truss expressed on “Fox & Friends Weekend” that there’s considerable support for Trump in the UK, suggesting many want him to take legal action against the BBC for what she perceives as a serious issue.
Trump has stated he feels “obligated” to move forward with a lawsuit against the broadcaster, potentially seeking up to $1 billion in damages. In response to the backlash, the BBC has apologized but decided not to re-air its documentary titled “Trump: A Second Chance?” Following the incident, both BBC director-general Tim Davie and BBC News chief executive Deborah Turness stepped down.
A spokesperson for the BBC mentioned that the company’s chairman, Sameer Shah, sent a letter to the White House expressing regret that both the president and the BBC were unhappy with how the speech footage was edited.
Despite this apology, the BBC has declined Trump’s request for compensation. Truss, however, argues that the president should still pursue legal action, stating, “I don’t believe they are being held accountable.” She flagged concerns over the BBC’s ongoing dissemination of what she terms “fake news,” particularly regarding Trump and the broader MAGA movement.
Truss accused the BBC of harboring political bias against conservative views, calling for the network to be defunded. “The BBC used to be a gold standard for journalism. Now? It’s a joke and needs to be shut down,” she remarked.
Fox News legal analyst Greg Jarrett aligned with Truss’s sentiments, arguing that an apology is insufficient. He noted that the BBC’s actions qualify as defamatory under British law, which likely prompted their apology and retraction.
Jarrett added that the harm done to Trump is significant, implying that an apology doesn’t rectify the situation.
Looking ahead, Trump mentioned plans to discuss this controversy with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer before initiating any legal proceedings.
