The BBC is facing one of its most serious legal and reputational challenges yet as Donald Trump threatens a $1 billion lawsuit over an edited Panorama documentary, just days after Director-General Tim Davie announced his resignation.
In an all-staff call held on Monday, November 10, Davie urged employees to “stand up for our journalism” and take control of the corporation’s narrative amid growing pressure from the U.S. president’s legal team.
“These times are difficult for the BBC, but they get through them. We will get through it,” Davie told staff. “And this narrative will not just be given by our enemies. It’s our narrative. We own things.”
He described the BBC as a “unique and precious organisation” and insisted that journalists must continue to defend the integrity of their reporting.
“I see the free press under pressure. I see the weaponisation. I think we’ve got to fight for our journalism,” he added.
The looming lawsuit stems from a Panorama episode that featured edited footage of Trump’s speech ahead of the U.S. Capitol riots.
Critics claim the program misleadingly combined remarks taken nearly 50 minutes apart, omitting his call for protesters to act “peacefully.”
In a letter to the BBC, Trump’s attorney demanded a “full and fair retraction”, a public apology, and financial compensation, claiming the documentary contained “false, defamatory, and misleading statements” about the president.
The letter warned that the $1 billion lawsuit will proceed if the BBC fails to comply by Friday.
Trump accused the broadcaster of attempting to “step on the scales of a presidential election,” arguing that the timing of the broadcast.
Davie and BBC News chief Deborah Turness both resigned following intense backlash over the program’s editing.
Speaking after his resignation, Davie admitted that the relentlessness of the job, political pressure from Trump’s camp, and the upcoming BBC Charter renewal influenced his decision.
“As director-general, I must take ultimate responsibility,” Davie said. Turness echoed his sentiment, telling reporters, “The buck stops with me.”
Outside BBC headquarters, Turness rejected claims that the corporation had become biased, stating firmly, “Of course our journalists aren’t corrupt.”
The BBC now faces a Friday deadline to respond to Trump’s legal team, while also managing internal morale amid leadership uncertainty.
The dispute has fueled intense debate over media impartiality, journalistic ethics, and political influence in coverage.
Davie, who joined the BBC in 2020 after a career at PepsiCo, had already faced multiple crises during his tenure, including the fallout from the Martin Bashir–Princess Diana interview scandal.
However, the Panorama controversy and Trump’s direct confrontation have plunged the corporation into what insiders describe as “uncharted legal territory.”
“This is a moral and journalistic test,” a senior BBC producer told staff off-record. “If we back down now, it sends the wrong signal to every newsroom in the world.”
As the corporation braces for a possible court battle, Davie reminded employees that the BBC’s credibility depends on its courage to stand firm.
“We are a unique and precious organisation,” he said. “The amazing work locally and globally that we’re doing is utterly precious.”
Whether the BBC will issue an apology or defend its journalism in court remains unclear.
