In brief
Facing a $10 bn lawsuit from former President Donald Trump, the BBC has moved to subpoena key family members to supply evidence for its defence. Court filings claim the trio had “personal knowledge” of the speech edited in the contentious Panorama episode and could help establish that the broadcaster did not act with intent to defame. Attempts to serve the subpoenas in person at Trump’s residences were blocked, leading the BBC to request electronic or mailed service. The suit, filed in Florida, also challenges the BBC’s claim that the documentary was unavailable in the U.S. and has seen the president’s lawyers admit lack of evidence for U.S. broadcasts. A trial date is set for February 2027 should the case progress.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is asking for court‑issued subpoenas to secure documents and testimony from Donald Trump Jr., his sister‑in‑law Ivanka Trump, and her husband Jared Kushner.
The request, filed in the U.S. federal court in Florida, follows a $10 billion (£7.4 billion) defamation claim against the broadcaster. Trump alleges that a 2024 Panorama episode “intentionally, maliciously, and deceptively” edited his post‑Capitol‑riot speech, giving the impression that he called for violence.
BBC‑lawyers argue that the family members “have personal knowledge” of the president’s intent and the modifications made to the speech. Court documents cite evidence collected by a U.S. congressional committee, noting that Trump Jr. and Ivanka were present when the president revised his remarks and that Kushner drafted a statement condemning violence.
The BBC requested that the subpoenas be served by electronic mail or certified mail after repeated failed attempts to deliver them in person. A representative tried to serve Trump Jr. at Trump Tower, only to be denied access by the concierge; similarly, attempts to serve Ivanka and Kushner at their Florida home were blocked by a police checkpoint and later denied by the Secret Service.
Trump’s legal team has not yet responded to the subpoena filings. The BBC press office declined to comment on the matter.
The lawsuit was filed by Trump in December 2024 and, after a recent admission of no U.S. broadcast evidence, the defendants have sought to dismiss the case. However, the judge granted Trump a request to delay handing over financial records in which the BBC seeks documents that could establish the documentary’s impact on his business interests. If the case moves forward, a trial is scheduled for February 2027.
