BBC Could Face $1–$5 Billion Lawsuit as President Trump Steps Up Legal Fight Against Media

London/Washington — The BBC is reportedly preparing for a possible $1–$5 billion lawsuit from U.S. President Donald Trump, who claims the broadcaster spread false and damaging reports about him. If the lawsuit goes ahead, it could become one of the biggest legal battles ever faced by the BBC — and British taxpayers may end up paying the cost.

Why Trump Plans to Sue

People close to the situation say President Trump believes the BBC repeatedly reported wrong, unfair, and biased information about him over the years. His team says BBC coverage of the 2016, 2020, and 2024 U.S. elections, along with documentaries and commentary shows, made him look bad in ways they argue were not true.

Trump’s lawyers claim this hurt his reputation worldwide, and they believe U.K. defamation laws — which are stricter than those in the U.S. — give him a strong case.

Trump’s Previous Legal Wins

This possible lawsuit comes after Trump recently won several major settlements from American tech and media companies. He has already received:

• $25 million from YouTube and Meta

• $10 million from X (formerly Twitter)

• $16 million from CBS and ABC

These settlements are not public in detail, but they have encouraged Trump to take on even bigger targets — and the BBC is next on the list.

Why British Taxpayers Are Worried

Because the BBC is funded mostly by the TV licence fee, the money collected from people across the U.K., any large payout or long legal fight would be supported by the public.

Some British lawmakers warn that a multi-billion-dollar lawsuit could cause the BBC to cut services or even need government help. Online, many people joke — or worry — that U.K. households might end up “helping to pay for the Trump Presidential Library.”

Experts Split on Whether Trump Can Win

Legal experts disagree over whether Trump has a strong case.

Some say he might win because U.K. defamation laws demand very careful and accurate reporting from broadcasters. If the BBC made mistakes, that could be used against them.

Others argue the BBC has the right to report on the actions of a sitting U.S. President and that much of its coverage falls under fair journalism.

Either way, a lawsuit of this size would be historic.

So far, the BBC has not commented. However, inside the organization, senior editors and lawyers are reportedly reviewing past reporting to prepare for what could be a long and expensive legal fight.

President Trump is expected to decide soon whether to officially file the lawsuit. If he does, the case would likely go to London’s High Court, drawing worldwide attention.

For now, the BBC is waiting for Trump’s next move — and the U.K. public is watching closely, knowing they may play an unexpected role in a major international legal battle.