BBC tells Trump it is ‘sorry’ for edited clip but says there is no ‘basis for a defamation claim’

Britain’s BBC apologised to Donald Trump on Thursday for editing a speech to make it look like he had advocated violence, seeking to ward off the U.S. president’s threat of legal action, but the broadcaster rejected the basis for a defamation claim.

In a statement, the BBC said its chair Samir Shah sent a personal letter to the White House making clear to Trump that he and the corporation were “sorry” for the edit, adding that the broadcaster has no plans to rebroadcast the Panorama documentary on any of its platforms.