BBC moves to dismiss Trump’s $15bn defamation lawsuit
The broadcaster argues the Florida court lacks jurisdiction and Trump cannot prove harm.
The BBC has moved to dismiss Donald Trump’s $US10 billion ($15 billion) lawsuit, arguing a Florida court has no jurisdiction over the case and that Trump cannot show he suffered any actual harm.
In a filing late Monday local time, the broadcaster said the lawsuit, which centres on its Panorama documentary examining Trump’s January 6 speech, should be thrown out because the program was neither produced nor broadcast in Florida.
The BBC also argued Trump’s re-election undermines any claim he was damaged by the broadcast.
🚨BREAKING: The Telegraph has revealed that the BBC edited Trump's speech *A SECOND TIME* on Newsnight!
They even ignored concerns that were raised about it. They deliberately misled the public.
It just gets worse for the BBC.
Absolute disgrace. pic.twitter.com/7cHpl1VIK8— Lee Harris (@LeeHarris) November 13, 2025
Trump alleges the BBC defamed him by editing together parts of his January 6, 2021 speech, including his call for supporters to march on the Capitol and his “fight like hell” remarks, while omitting a section urging peaceful protest.
He claims the editing breached Florida’s deceptive and unfair trade practices laws and is seeking at least $US5 billion for each of two counts.
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Jurisdiction and damages at the centre of dismissal bid
The BBC said Florida law should not apply because the broadcaster has no relevant business presence in the state and did not target Florida audiences with the program.
It also argued Trump failed to plead actual damages, describing his claims of harm as vague and unsupported.
“As Plaintiff failed to plead actual damages, claiming only vague ‘harm to his professional and occupational interests,’ his claim fails,” the BBC said in its filing.
BBC seeks pause on discovery
While the BBC has apologised for the editing featured in Panorama, it said the documentary was not published with “actual malice”, the legal threshold required in US defamation cases involving public figures.
The broadcaster is also asking the court to stay the discovery phase while its motion to dismiss is considered, warning that full merits-based discovery would impose significant and unnecessary costs if the case is ultimately dismissed.
The BBC is funded by a mandatory licence fee paid by UK television-watching households.
