The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is moving to have a colossal $10 billion (£7.5 billion) defamation lawsuit filed by former US President Donald Trump thrown out of court, according to newly filed legal documents.
Legal Grounds for Dismissal
In documents submitted late on Monday, 12th January 2026, the BBC's legal team outlined three key arguments for dismissal. Firstly, they contend that a Florida court lacks "personal jurisdiction" over the UK-based broadcaster. Secondly, they assert that Florida is an "improper" venue for the case. Finally, they argue that President Trump has "failed to state a claim" upon which relief can be granted.
The corporation will argue that the Panorama documentary in question was not created, produced, or broadcast from Florida, despite Trump's claim that it was accessible via the streaming service BritBox in the state. The BBC is also challenging the core of the defamation claim, stating the former president has not plausibly alleged the broadcaster acted with "actual malice"—a necessary legal threshold for public officials suing for defamation in the United States.
The Controversial Edit and Fallout
The lawsuit originates from a Panorama episode broadcast in 2024, which faced significant criticism towards the end of 2025. The programme edited segments of President Trump's speech from 6th January 2021, splicing them together to create the impression he urged supporters to "storm the Capitol." The edited clip showed him saying: “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol… and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.”
Trump's legal team claims this edit was "false and defamatory," leading to his demand for up to $10 billion in damages. In response to the controversy, the BBC previously issued an apology, admitting to an "error of judgment," but maintained there was no legal basis for the lawsuit. The scandal had severe internal consequences, leading to the resignations of both Tim Davie, the BBC’s director general, and Deborah Turness, the head of BBC News. Davie stated he had to "take ultimate responsibility" for mistakes made.
Next Steps and Reactions
The BBC has requested the court to "stay all other discovery"—the pre-trial evidence-gathering process—pending a decision on their motion to dismiss. Should the case proceed despite the BBC's efforts, a trial date in 2027 has been proposed.
President Trump first announced the lawsuit in December 2025, stating, “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." A spokesperson for his legal team later called the edit a "brazen attempt" at election interference and accused the BBC of a "long pattern of deceiving its audience" due to a leftist political agenda.
The BBC has been approached for further comment on the latest legal filing.
