The BBC is taking steps to dismiss a $10 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Donald Trump. The legal action stems from a documentary aired by the BBC’s “Panorama” program, which included edited segments of Trump’s speech from January 6, 2021. The BBC argues that the Florida court lacks jurisdiction over the case and contends that Trump’s claims of damages are unfounded.
The lawsuit, filed last month in the Southern District of Florida, alleges one count of defamation and one count of violating a Florida trade practices law. Trump’s legal team seeks $5 billion in damages for each count, totaling $10 billion. The 33-page complaint accuses the BBC of creating a “false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious depiction” of the former president. The documentary aired just one week before the 2024 U.S. presidential election, focusing on Trump’s actions leading up to the Capitol riots.
Trump’s legal representatives assert that the BBC “intentionally and maliciously sought to fully mislead its viewers” by splicing together two clips of the same speech. They argue that these clips, which were separated by 55 minutes, omitted Trump’s call for peace, thus misrepresenting his intentions. The president had directed supporters to Capitol Hill, where Congress was set to confirm election results favoring Joe Biden.
In the legal documents filed on Monday, the BBC’s attorneys argue for the dismissal of the case, stating that the documentary was neither created, produced, nor aired in Florida. They emphasize that Trump’s claims lack merit, noting he was re-elected after the documentary’s UK broadcast and won Florida decisively. Furthermore, they challenge the assertion that the documentary was available on the streaming service BritBox, claiming that Trump’s allegations are inaccurate.
According to the BBC’s legal team, “Plaintiff alleges that the Documentary was available in the U.S. on the streaming service BritBox. But simply clicking on the link that Plaintiff cites for this point shows it is not on BritBox. Nor was it ever available on BritBox.” They maintain that Trump’s team has not demonstrated that the documentary was created “with actual malice.”
A spokesperson for the BBC stated, “As we have made clear previously, we will be defending this case. We are not going to make further comment on ongoing legal proceedings.” The BBC had previously issued an apology in November 2023, acknowledging that the edited clip had given “the mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action.” The organization expressed regret over the editing but firmly disagreed with the basis for the defamation claim, stating that there were “no plans to rebroadcast the documentary.”
As the legal battle continues, it remains to be seen how this case will unfold in the coming months. The BBC’s stance highlights the complexities of media representation and the legal implications involved in political discourse, particularly in the context of a highly polarized electoral landscape.
