Miami, United States. The BBC said it will argue in federal court that U.S. President Donald Trump failed to establish claims that the broadcaster defamed him in a documentary aired shortly before he won a second White House term.
BBC filing and legal arguments
In a filing in Miami federal court, Britain’s public broadcaster said it intends to seek dismissal of Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit, arguing he failed to state successful claims for defamation and for a violation of a Florida unfair trade practices law. The BBC also said it plans to argue the court lacks jurisdiction under Florida law, federal rules governing civil cases, and the U.S. Constitution’s due process clause. The BBC has apologized to Trump for the edit.
Response timeline and trial date
Lawyers for Trump did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The BBC has until March 17 to respond formally to Trump’s complaint, which he filed on December 15. A trial is scheduled for February 15, 2027.
Allegations over documentary editing
Trump accused the BBC of splicing together footage from parts of a speech he gave on January 6, 2021, to make it appear he directed supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol later that day, when lawmakers planned to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election. The documentary was titled “Trump: A Second Chance?” and, according to the complaint, combined a section in which Trump said supporters would march on the Capitol with another recorded nearly an hour later in which he urged them to “fight like hell.”
Damages sought and BBC leadership fallout
Trump, a Republican, is seeking at least $5 billion in damages on each claim against the BBC, which is publicly funded. Fallout from the documentary, including allegations of bias, led to the resignations of the BBC’s top executive and its head of news in November.
What do you think the court will focus on most in assessing the BBC’s arguments to dismiss the case?
