Trump Files $10bn Lawsuit Over Edited Documentary Clip

US President Donald Trump on Monday filed a lawsuit seeking at least $10 billion in damages over a documentary that he claims distorted a speech he delivered to supporters ahead of the January 6, 2021 events at the US Capitol.

The lawsuit, lodged in a federal court in Miami, seeks no less than $5 billion for each of two counts, alleging defamation and violations of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Trump argued that the documentary edited separate portions of his speech in a way that falsely suggested he directly incited violence.

Earlier in the day, Trump said legal action was imminent, claiming his words were manipulated and alleging that advanced editing techniques may have been used to alter the message of his remarks.

The documentary, broadcast last year ahead of the 2024 US presidential election, combined excerpts from Trump’s January 6 speech, creating what his legal team describes as a misleading narrative that portrayed him as explicitly urging supporters to attack the Capitol while lawmakers were certifying the 2020 election results.

In a statement, Trump’s lawyers said the editing was carried out “intentionally, maliciously, and deceptively” and accused the broadcaster of attempting to influence the outcome of the 2024 election to Trump’s detriment. They further alleged a pattern of biased coverage driven by political motives.

The controversy resurfaced last month after renewed scrutiny of the edited clip, triggering internal turmoil at the broadcaster and leading to the resignation of its director-general and top news executive.

Trump’s lawsuit claims the altered footage was aired just days before the election as part of a deliberate effort to interfere in the democratic process. While the broadcaster has denied the defamation allegations, its chair has acknowledged the editing error and issued an apology, admitting the response should have come sooner once the mistake was identified.

This case marks the latest in a series of lawsuits Trump has filed against media organisations in recent years, several of which have resulted in multi-million-dollar settlements.