UK PM Starmer's office: Trump legal action is a matter for the BBC

Trump has sued the BBC for up to $10 billion in damages over edited clips of a speech

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer walks in Downing Street in London, Britain, Dec 10, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

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 US 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 US 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."