BBC Stands Firm on Documentary Amid Trump’s $10 Billion Lawsuit
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has begun to outline its defenses against President Donald Trump’s substantial $10 billion defamation lawsuit. The broadcaster informed a federal judge that the documentary at the heart of the case was fair, despite a controversial edit of one segment.
On Monday, the BBC requested a federal judge in Miami to pause the exchange of evidence related to the lawsuit, which was filed last month. The broadcaster is awaiting a ruling on its motion to dismiss the case, which is expected in March.
Furthermore, the BBC indicated its intention to transfer the case to New York if the lawsuit is not dismissed. The rationale behind this move is that the documentary in question was neither created, produced, nor aired in Florida.
Read more: Trump Sues Britain’s BBC for $10 Billion Over Speech Edit
Trump’s lawsuit stems from a misleading edit in a documentary aired before the 2024 presidential election. The edit suggested that he had made a direct call for violence during a speech preceding the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters.
BBC Chairman Samir Shah acknowledged on November 10 that the edited footage of Trump’s speech, which was featured in the Panorama program in 2024, incorrectly conveyed “the impression of a direct call for violent action.” Shortly thereafter, the broadcaster issued a second apology but firmly rejected Trump’s request for compensation.
In its filing on Monday, the BBC argued that Trump’s lawsuit does not meet the stringent criteria for alleging defamation against a public figure. This standard necessitates proof of actual malice, meaning the allegedly defamatory statement was made with intent or a reckless disregard for the truth.
“The absence of actual malice is highlighted by the fact that the brief clip, which shows less than 15 seconds of the plaintiff’s speech on January 6, is part of an hour-long film that includes extensive coverage of his supporters and a balanced portrayal of his path to reelection,” the BBC’s legal team stated.
As of now, Trump’s legal team has not responded to requests for comments regarding the ongoing case.
Photograph: The British Broadcasting Corp. logo; photo credit: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg
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The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has begun to outline its defenses against President Donald Trump’s substantial $10 billion defamation lawsuit. The broadcaster informed a federal judge that the documentary at the heart of the case was fair, despite a controversial edit of one segment.
On Monday, the BBC requested a federal judge in Miami to pause the exchange of evidence related to the lawsuit, which was filed last month. The broadcaster is awaiting a ruling on its motion to dismiss the case, which is expected in March.
Furthermore, the BBC indicated its intention to transfer the case to New York if the lawsuit is not dismissed. The rationale behind this move is that the documentary in question was neither created, produced, nor aired in Florida.
Read more: Trump Sues Britain’s BBC for $10 Billion Over Speech Edit
Trump’s lawsuit stems from a misleading edit in a documentary aired before the 2024 presidential election. The edit suggested that he had made a direct call for violence during a speech preceding the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters.
BBC Chairman Samir Shah acknowledged on November 10 that the edited footage of Trump’s speech, which was featured in the Panorama program in 2024, incorrectly conveyed “the impression of a direct call for violent action.” Shortly thereafter, the broadcaster issued a second apology but firmly rejected Trump’s request for compensation.
In its filing on Monday, the BBC argued that Trump’s lawsuit does not meet the stringent criteria for alleging defamation against a public figure. This standard necessitates proof of actual malice, meaning the allegedly defamatory statement was made with intent or a reckless disregard for the truth.
“The absence of actual malice is highlighted by the fact that the brief clip, which shows less than 15 seconds of the plaintiff’s speech on January 6, is part of an hour-long film that includes extensive coverage of his supporters and a balanced portrayal of his path to reelection,” the BBC’s legal team stated.
As of now, Trump’s legal team has not responded to requests for comments regarding the ongoing case.
Photograph: The British Broadcasting Corp. logo; photo credit: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg
Related:
Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.
Topics
Lawsuits
Interested in Lawsuits?
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