Washington, Dec 16: US President Donald Trump on Monday announced plans to file a lawsuit against the BBC, accusing the British broadcaster of falsely attributing statements to him, potentially using artificial intelligence. At the same time, he revealed that he personally urged Chinese President Xi Jinping to consider the release of jailed Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai.
Speaking to reporters at the White House after a ceremony honoring US service members, Trump described the alleged misrepresentation by the BBC as a serious breach of journalistic standards. “They actually put terrible words in my mouth. They had me saying things that I never said,” he said, suggesting that AI may have been used to fabricate or alter his remarks.
Trump said the comments in question related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, and claimed that his actual statements emphasizing patriotism were omitted. He added that the alleged misrepresentation was so evident that it was reportedly acknowledged internally at the broadcaster. “I believe somebody at the BBC said this is so bad, it has to be reported,” Trump said.
Announcing legal action, Trump said, “We’ll be filing that suit probably this afternoon or tomorrow morning,” describing the episode as “fake news.”
On the issue of China, Trump said he had raised the case of Jimmy Lai directly with President Xi, citing humanitarian concerns. “I spoke to President Xi about it. I asked to consider his release. He’s an older man, and he’s not well,” he said, adding that he personally conveyed his concerns to the Chinese leader.
Lai, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, was convicted under Hong Kong’s national security law, a move that has drawn international criticism from press freedom organizations and Western governments. When asked whether he expects a response from Beijing, Trump said, “We’ll see what happens.”
The President did not indicate if Lai’s detention had impacted broader US–China relations, which continue to be strained over trade, technology, Taiwan, and human rights issues.