The BBC will file a motion to dismiss President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit which is based on the editing of a speech appearing to encourage storming the U.S. Capitol on 6 January.
Court filings released late on Monday indicate the broadcaster will argue that a Florida court does not have personal jurisdiction, as the programme in question was not broadcast in the state. The BBC will also contend that Trump cannot demonstrate damages, noting that he was re-elected after the programme aired.
Trump alleges that the publicly funded British broadcaster defamed him by editing together separate parts of his 6 January 2021 speech, including his call for supporters to march on the Capitol and his remark to “fight like hell”, while excluding a passage urging peaceful protest.
The lawsuit claims the BBC breached a Florida statute prohibiting deceptive and unfair trade practices. Trump is seeking at least $5 billion in damages for each of the two counts.
Although the BBC has apologised for the editing shown in its Panorama documentary, it has said it will vigorously contest the case.
According to the court filing, the broadcaster intends to submit its motion to dismiss by the 17 March deadline. It argues that Trump cannot plausibly show the documentary was produced with “actual malice”, a legal standard required in defamation cases involving public figures.
The BBC, which is funded by a compulsory licence fee paid by UK television-watching households, also stated that the programme was not available in the United States via the BritBox streaming service, contrary to claims made in the lawsuit.
In addition, the broadcaster has asked the court to suspend the discovery process while the motion to dismiss is under consideration. It said proceeding with wide-ranging discovery at this stage would impose significant and unnecessary costs if the case is ultimately dismissed.
The filing adds that Trump has failed to demonstrate concrete losses, instead citing only generalised harm to his professional and occupational interests, which the BBC argues is insufficient to sustain the claim.
The United States and Azerbaijan signed a new strategic partnership agreement in Baku on Tuesday, expanding cooperation on defence, energy security, a...
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is due in Türkiye on Wednesday (11 February) for talks with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as the two NATO allies...
Uzbekistan is combining renewable energy expansion with sweeping land restoration, installing solar stations in local communities while rehabilitating...
Three people were injured after a gunman opened fire and held students and teachers hostage at a school in Hat Yai district in southern Thailand on We...
Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation remained severe throughout 2025, with millions still struggling to meet basic needs, according to a new report ...
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is due in Türkiye on Wednesday (11 February) for talks with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as the two NATO allies seek to sustain a fragile thaw after decades of strained relations.
Three people were injured after a gunman opened fire and held students and teachers hostage at a school in Hat Yai district in southern Thailand on Wednesday, police said.
Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation remained severe throughout 2025, with millions still struggling to meet basic needs, according to a new report by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The Philippine foreign ministry on Wednesday (11 February) called on the Chinese Embassy in Manila to adopt a “constructive” tone in its statements, amid an intensifying war of words between Chinese diplomats and Philippine officials, including senators.
JD Vance arrived in Armenia on Monday (9 February), becoming the first sitting U.S. Vice President to visit the country, as Yerevan and Washington agreed to cooperate in the civil nuclear sector in a bid to deepen engagement in the South Caucasus.
The United States and Azerbaijan signed a strategic partnership in Baku on Tuesday (10 February) encompassing economic and security cooperation as Washington seeks to expand its influence in a region where Russia was once the main power broker.
António José Seguro’s decisive victory over far-right challenger André Ventura marks an historic moment in Portuguese politics, but analysts caution that the result does not amount to a rejection of populism.
Buckingham Palace said it is ready to support any police investigation into allegations that Prince Andrew shared confidential British trade documents with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as King Charles expressed “profound concern” over the latest revelations.
Chinese authorities have quietly signalled a shift in strategy, instructing some state-owned banks to rein in their purchases of U.S. government bonds.
Three people were injured after a gunman opened fire and held students and teachers hostage at a school in Hat Yai district in southern Thailand on Wednesday, police said.
The Philippine foreign ministry on Wednesday (11 February) called on the Chinese Embassy in Manila to adopt a “constructive” tone in its statements, amid an intensifying war of words between Chinese diplomats and Philippine officials, including senators.
Norway’s Sturla Holm Laegreid, who won bronze in the men’s biathlon at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Tuesday (10 February) in Italy, stunned viewers by publicly admitting he had cheated on his girlfriend and pleaded for another chance during post-race interviews.
Kyiv is preparing to outline a simultaneous return to the ballot box and a public vote on a potential peace settlement, the Financial Times reports. It would mark a pivotal shift in the country's political landscape on the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 11th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment