BBC Seeks Dismissal of Trump’s $10 Billion Lawsuit
LONDON – The BBC is set to request that a court dismiss US President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against them, according to court filings.
Trump initiated the lawsuit in December regarding how the BBC edited a speech he delivered on January 6, 2021.
Filed in a federal court in Florida, the lawsuit demands $5 billion for defamation and another $5 billion for unfair trade practices.
In his speech, Trump addressed his supporters shortly before they invaded the U.S. Capitol while Congress was working to certify Joe Biden’s election victory, which Trump has repeatedly claimed was fraudulently taken from him.
This legal action follows the BBC airing a documentary titled “Trump: A Second Chance?” just days prior to the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
In the contested segment, the BBC combined three quotes from different parts of Trump’s speech, making it seem like one continuous call for his supporters to “fight like hell.” Notably, parts of the speech included a plea for peaceful demonstrations.
The BBC has issued an apology for how they edited the speech but stands firm that they did not defame Trump.
This incident resulted in both the resignation of the BBC’s chief executive and the head of news.
The broadcaster plans to file a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on March 17, arguing, among other points, that the court doesn’t have jurisdiction and that Trump hasn’t provided a valid basis for his claims, according to documents submitted Monday in the U.S. District Court in Miami.
BBC lawyers will maintain that the documentary was neither produced nor shown in Florida, disputing Trump’s assertion that it was available to U.S. audiences on the streaming service Britbox.
Trump is also claiming that the BBC cannot convincingly argue it acted with malice.
BBC attorney Charles Tobin pointed out that proving real harm is unlikely, noting that Trump won Florida by a significant margin. He argued that the documentary wouldn’t damage Trump’s reputation since it aired after the former president was indicted for attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.
The BBC has requested that the court delay the discovery process—where parties exchange documents and information—until after a decision on the motion to dismiss is made.
Should the lawsuit proceed, a trial could possibly be set for 2027.
“We have made it clear that we intend to defend this case,” the BBC stated on Tuesday, adding they would refrain from further comments on the ongoing legal matters.
