Donald Trump has filed a defamation lawsuit against the BBC, alleging the corporation’s Panorama documentary portrayed him in a “false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious” manner.

The complaint relates to the broadcaster’s editing of a speech he made in 2021 on the day his supporters stormed the Capitol building.

Clips were spliced together from sections of the US president’s speech on January 6, 2021; to make it appear he told supporters he was going to walk to the US Capitol with them to “fight like hell”.

It aired in the documentary Trump: A Second Chance? which was broadcast by the BBC the week before last year’s US election.

The BBC has said it will defend itself against the lawsuit.

Britain’s century-old broadcaster could break with tradition to start running adverts or be available on subscription basis under proposals being considered by the government to alter the current funding model of a universal licence fee.

The BBC’s funding has long been a source of national debate, given that any household that watches live TV is obliged to pay the fee and has come under greater scrutiny as politicians from different sides have accused it of bias.

The US president is seeking damages of no less than $5bn (£3.7bn) under a defamation lawsuit. Trump also sued for $5bn for alleged violation of a trade practices law.

Both lawsuits have been filed in Florida.