LONDON (AP) — A U.S. judge announced that former President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC is set to go to trial in February 2027. U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman of the Southern District of Florida denied the BBC's request to postpone proceedings.
Trump's lawsuit, filed in December, stems from the way the BBC edited a speech he delivered on January 6, 2021, just moments before his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol during the certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s election. The legal filing seeks $5 billion for defamation and an additional $5 billion for unfair trade practices.
The BBC aired a documentary titled “Trump: A Second Chance?” shortly before the 2024 U.S. presidential election, which included a controversial edit of Trump's January 6 speech, combining quotes from different parts of the speech. This editing made it seem as though Trump urged his supporters to march and 'fight like hell', omitting his call for peaceful demonstrations.
In response to the backlash, the BBC issued an apology but firmly states that it did not defame Trump, leading to significant personnel changes within the organization, including resignations from its top executive and head of news.
As for the BBC's request to dismiss the case, it argued that the court lacks jurisdiction and contended Trump failed to properly state a claim. However, the judge deemed the motion premature, suggesting the timing for such a request is still too early in the legal proceedings.
In the meantime, discovery — the pretrial phase where parties exchange documents — remains crucial, as it could require the BBC to produce extensive materials relating to its coverage of Trump.
