A US federal judge in Florida has allowed President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC to proceed. In the Trump BBC lawsuit, Judge Jeffrey Kuntz on Tuesday partly rejected the broadcaster’s motion to dismiss the case.
What the Judge Decided
The lawsuit, filed in December 2025, concerns the BBC’s Panorama documentary “Trump: A Second Chance?”. It spliced together remarks Trump made nearly 55 minutes apart at his speech before the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot, which Trump says made it appear he urged supporters to march on the Capitol and fight. The BBC has apologised for the edit but denies that it defamed him.
The judge found Trump had sufficiently alleged “actual malice”, the legal standard a public figure must meet in a defamation case. He noted that Trump will still have to prove it at trial.
| Claim | Ruling |
|---|---|
| Defamation (about $5 billion sought) | Allowed to proceed |
| Florida unfair trade practices law (about $5 billion sought) | Dismissed, as the documentary was not commercial speech |
The BBC’s Arguments
The BBC had asked the court to dismiss the case on the grounds that it lacked jurisdiction, because the programme was not broadcast in Florida, and that Trump had failed to state a claim. In his order the judge pointed to the BBC emailing US and Florida-based commenters with instructions on how to view the documentary. He also noted that editing is often required, but said the allegation that the BBC departed from journalistic standards was enough to suggest conduct beyond mere negligence.
Reactions to the Trump BBC Lawsuit Ruling
Trump hailed the ruling as a “huge victory” on his Truth Social platform. A BBC spokesperson said the broadcaster was surprised by the decision but respected the court’s authority, and noted the case will now move to the next stage. The BBC has said it sincerely regrets how the clip was edited but strongly disagrees that there is any basis for a defamation claim.
What Happens Next in the Trump BBC Lawsuit
Last month a magistrate judge ordered Trump to give a deposition by 11 December after the BBC said he was dodging efforts to obtain sworn testimony. The court warned that failure to attend could bring sanctions, including possible dismissal of the lawsuit.
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