14 January 2026
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has formally asked a U.S. federal court in Florida to dismiss a $10 billion lawsuit filed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, marking a major escalation in their transatlantic legal clash.
Trump’s lawsuit, lodged late last year in the Southern District of Florida, accuses the BBC of defamation and of violating Florida’s deceptive and unfair trade practices law over a 2024 Panorama documentary. His legal team is seeking $5 billion in damages for each of two counts, bringing the total claim to $10 billion.
What Trump Is Suing Over
The case centers on a BBC documentary that included an edited version of Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech — portions of which were spliced together in a way that, Trump claims, wrongly suggested he urged supporters to “fight like hell” in the lead‑up to the U.S. Capitol attack. Trump says this edited portrayal was defamatory and damaged his reputation and business interests.
BBC executives have acknowledged the edit was a mistake and apologised, but have firmly rejected the defamation claim, saying the broadcast did not constitute malicious or defamatory content.
BBC’s Arguments for Dismissal
In its legal filing, the BBC is making several key arguments for why the lawsuit should be thrown out before trial:
1. Lack of Jurisdiction
The BBC argues that a U.S. court in Florida lacks personal jurisdiction because the documentary was not created, produced, or aired in Florida or anywhere in the U.S. They dispute claims that the programme was broadcast on U.S. services like BritBox.
2. Improper Venue
Linked to the jurisdiction argument, the BBC says the chosen court is the wrong venue for this case since the events at issue took place largely outside the United States.
3. Failure to Allege Defamation Properly
Under U.S. law, public figures bringing defamation claims must show that the defendant acted with “actual malice” — knowingly or recklessly publishing false information. The BBC argues Trump’s filing fails to meet that high legal standard.
4. No Provable Damage
The broadcaster also asserts Trump has not plausibly demonstrated that the documentary caused him actual harm, noting he was re‑elected in 2024 despite the documentary’s timing near the election.
What Happens Next
As part of its dismissal motion, the BBC has asked the court to stay (pause) the discovery phase, which would otherwise allow both sides to begin gathering evidence and demanding documents — potentially including internal BBC communications.
If the judge rejects the motion to dismiss, the case could proceed toward a trial as early as 2027.
The BBC has declined to offer detailed further comment while legal proceedings are ongoing.
Broader Fallout and Context
The lawsuit has already had significant repercussions within the BBC itself: senior leaders, including the director‑general and head of news, resigned in the wake of the documentary controversy. Trump’s suit has also sparked broader debates about media accountability, defamation law, and how historical speeches are represented in journalism.
Regardless of how the dismissal motion fares, the case is shaping up to be a consequential test of cross‑border defamation law — and the reach of U.S. courts over foreign public broadcasters.
