The BBC has announced it will mount a defence against a defamation lawsuit threatened by United States President Donald Trump, expected to be filed this week.

On Monday, Samir Shah, the chair of the BBC’s board, said the British broadcaster is prepared to fight any complaint the president files.

“I want to be very clear with you — our position has not changed. There is no basis for a defamation case, and we are determined to fight this,” Shah wrote in a letter to BBC staff.

The letter follows an announcement on Friday from President Trump, saying that he planned to proceed with a lawsuit in the coming days.

“We’ll sue them for anywhere between a billion and $5bn , probably some time next week,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One. “I think I have to do it.”

The controversy stems f

See Full Page