(MENAFN) The BBC has stated it is “determined to fight” any defamation lawsuit filed by US President Donald Trump, chairman Samir Shah said Monday, according to media reports. Trump has accused the broadcaster of deceptively editing a speech he delivered shortly before the 2021 Capitol Hill riot.

Last Friday, Trump told reporters his legal team would sue the BBC for “anywhere between $1 billion and $5 billion, probably sometime next week,” despite the network issuing a formal apology. The apology addressed a documentary that edited Trump’s speech in a way that “gave the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action” prior to the January 6 events.

In a letter to staff, Shah emphasized that there is “no basis for a defamation case and we are determined to fight this.” He also noted the BBC’s responsibility to protect public funds and the license fee payers from potential legal or settlement costs.

Former director general Tony Hall echoed this stance, stressing that the broadcaster should not make any payout, as such a settlement would effectively involve public money.

The controversy has coincided with resignations from BBC director general Tim Davie and head of news Deborah Turness. Davie acknowledged “some mistakes made” amid ongoing debate over BBC News coverage, though he did not specifically reference Trump’s accusations.

The BBC has also faced criticism for alleged pro-Israel bias and dehumanizing coverage of Palestinians during the Gaza conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently condemned efforts to shield the BBC from accountability, calling it a “disgrace” and describing British media reporting as “unprofessional and harmful.”

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