Donald Trump, the US President, is seeking up to $10billion (£7.5billion) in damages in response to the editing of a speech he made which was featured in a Panorama episode

Donald Trump could be forced to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth if he goes ahead with his $10billion lawsuit against the BBC. Lawyers for the broadcaster are said to be considering launching an aggressive defence. And they could make the US president face questions about his actions during the Capitol riot of January 6, 2021. It is something no congressional committee, prosecutor or journalist has ever been able to do, with Mr Trump so far managing to avoid scrutiny over his supporters’ actions that day. A source close to the case told the Mirror: “The moment Trump filed this case, he opened the door. He thinks he can attack the BBC for $10bn. But he could expose himself to questioning that could finally pin down what he did, what he knew and when.”

Mr Trump has launched two actions worth $5bn (£3.7m) each against the BBC over its editing of a speech he made on the day of the riot in Washington, DC. One is for defamation and the other for violation of trade practices. The corporation has apologised but refused to pay damages, and Mr Trump claims it was part of a deliberate attempt to damage his 2024 election prospects. A BBC spokesperson said: “As we have made clear previously, we will be defending this case.” The US legal source told the Mirror: “Trump thinks this lawsuit puts the BBC on trial – in reality, it puts him on the stand. He has finally walked into a process he cannot control with a Tweet or a rally.” The BBC will be preparing discovery demands requiring Mr Trump to turn over internal communications about the Panorama episode, as well as emails, memos, drafts and briefing notes covering January 6. Every answer, every document, every sworn statement would be legally binding, with perjury charges looming over any falsehood. Our source added: “If Trump wants billions, he’s going to have to pay for it in disclosure. He’s never faced questioning like this. The evidence demands will be relentless. No one has ever been able to pin Trump down on his movements during the riot. If the BBC’s legal team deposes him, that changes. They’ll have him answering for every minute.”

The dispute centres on Panorama’s edited version of Mr Trump’s January 6 speech, which appeared to show him urging supporters to march on the Capitol and “fight like hell”, while omitting his instruction to protest “peacefully”. BBC lawyers have told Mr Trump’s team the suit has no merit. Panorama did not air in the US and was geo-blocked online, so American viewers could not access the broadcast. The corporation has also reportedly pointed out that Mr Trump cannot demonstrate “overwhelming, reputational harm”, given that he went on to win the 2024 election.

Gregory Germain, professor at Syracuse University College of Law, claims Mr Trump’s case is doomed. “The facts were not false,” he said. “Editing video to change the order of quotes to make a point is what video editors do every day.” Still, Mr Trump’s lawsuit – officially filed in Florida on Monday – could cause a headache for the BBC. The location is significant: It is the same court district where former wrestler Hulk Hogan’s defamation case led to Gawker Media filing for bankruptcy. Media analyst Michael J Socolow compared the BBC case to two of Mr Trump’s previous court battles, against ABC and CBS. ABC paid £11.2m last year after anchor George Stephanopoulos incorrectly stated Mr Trump had been found “liable for rape”, despite claims the case had weak prospects of success.

Paramount, CBS’s parent company, settled its lawsuit for £12m amid claims the broadcaster deceptively edited an interview with Kamala Harris – a payment which insiders said was made to clear the path for a corporate takeover rather than for legal reasons. Other outlets have taken a tougher stance. The Rupert Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal is currently barred from Air Force One while it fights its own £7.4billion suit accusing it of a “deliberate smear campaign” over its coverage of Mr Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein. A White House official said BBC journalists could face similar reprisals. The Beeb must weigh the cost of litigation against the political fallout of a settlement which would be funded by licence-fee payers. “If they fight the lawsuit, that could be seen as validating the charge that it has a bias against the American president,” said Prof Socolow. “If they settle, it hands cash from the British citizenry directly to an American president.” He added: “They need a very sophisticated political persuasion campaign much more than a sophisticated legal defence.” On January 6, 2021, thousands of Trump supporters stormed the home of the US legislature in protest at their man’s defeat to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. Mr Trump claimed at the time the election was a fix but denies having inspired the rioters.