Headlines
UK PM Starmer's office: Trump legal action is a matter for the BBC
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on December 16, 2025
Last updated: January 7, 2026
Global Banking and Finance Review
Company
Published by Global Banking and Finance Review
Posted on December 16, 2025
Last updated: January 7, 2026
LONDON, Dec 16 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's office on Tuesday said that any legal action against the BBC was a matter for the broadcaster but the government supported its independence, after a lawsuit brought by U.S. President Donald Trump.
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 U.S. Capitol, opening an international front in his fight against media coverage he deems untrue or unfair.
"Any legal action is a matter for the BBC itself. They've made clear they believe there's no case around the broader point of defamation or libel, but that's for them and their legal teams to engage with," a spokesperson for Starmer told reporters.
"We will always defend the principle of a strong, independent BBC as a trusted, relied-upon national broadcaster, reporting without fear or favour. But as we've also consistently said, it's vitally important that they act to maintain trust, correcting mistakes quickly when they occur."
(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper, writing by Alistair Smout, editing by Sarah Young)
Libel is a form of defamation that involves making false statements about someone in written form. It can lead to legal action if the statements cause harm to the person's reputation.
The BBC, or British Broadcasting Corporation, is the national broadcaster of the United Kingdom. It is known for its independence and commitment to providing impartial news and information.
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