Donald Trump lawsuit to be dismissed by BBC according to court documents

The broadcaster are set to dismiss Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit new court documents reveal

The BBC are taking legal action to dismiss Trump’s 10 billion dollar defamation lawsuit over a Panorama edit, according to court documents. The TV episode faced criticism at the end of last year over a segment broadcast in 2024.

In the Panorama episode an edited clip implied that the Donald Trump had suggested his supporters storm the Capitol building in 2021. The episode merged together sections of the US President’s speech from January 6, 2021 so he appeared to say: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol… and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.”

Trump is asking for up to 10 billion dollars (£7.5 billion) in damages for the edit of his speech as his team of lawyers argue it was “false and defamatory”. The BBC have submitted files late on Monday evening (January 12) that reveal they will file a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, claiming the Florida court lacks “personal jurisdiction” over them, the court venue is “improper” and that Trump has “failed to state a claim”.

The broadcaster claim that the Panorama episode was not created, produced or broadcast in Florida and disregard Trump’s argument that it was available on the streaming service BritBox.

The BBC are also set to claim that Trump has failed to “plausibly allege” the BBC published the documentary with “actual malice”, which public officials are required to show when filing suit for defamation in the US. The broadcaster have asked the court “to stay all other discovery” – the pre-trial process in which parties gather information – pending the decision on the motion.

If the case does continue, a trial date has been proposed for 2027. Trump said before filing the lawsuit on Monday, December 15: “In a little while, you’ll be seeing I’m suing the BBC for putting words in my mouth. Literally, they put words in my mouth.”

The BBC have apologised to Mr Trump over the edit and admit there was an “error of judgment” however they argue there was no legal basis for Mr Trump’s claim. However, a spokesperson for the president’s legal team insisted the edit was a “brazen attempt” at interfering in the presidential election.

The spokesperson added: “The BBC has a long pattern of deceiving its audience in coverage of President Trump, all in service of its own leftist political agenda. President Trump’s powerhouse lawsuit is holding the BBC accountable for its defamation and reckless election interference just as he has held other fake news mainstream media responsible for their wrongdoing.”

Tim Davie, BBC’s director general, resigned from his role because of the Panorama edit. He admitted when stepping down that there had “been some mistakes made” and that he had to “take ultimate responsibility”. PA have approached BBC has been approached for comment.