Politics · United States · 45 mins ago
Trump's $10 billion defamation case against BBC can proceed
A federal judge in Florida allowed Trump's defamation claim against the BBC to proceed over an edited clip of his speech.
Trump is seeking at least US$10 billion, saying the BBC joined parts of the speech in a way that made it seem he urged supporters to storm the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The clip appeared in a BBC Panorama documentary shortly before the 2024 US presidential election.
The BBC has said the edits were misleading and apologised, but denies it is liable for defamation.
The judge said Trump had plausibly claimed the BBC damaged his reputation and knew or should have known the clip was misleading, but did not decide whether those claims are proven.
The ruling also dismissed Trump's unfair trade practices claim against the broadcaster.
The case can now continue, with its outcome still to be decided.
A federal judge has allowed Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation claim against the BBC to proceed.
Judge Jeffrey Kuntz declined to dismiss the claim but threw out Trump’s claim under Florida’s unfair trade practices law.
Trump alleges the BBC edited his January 6, 2021 speech to make it appear that he urged supporters to storm the US Capitol.
The edited clip appeared in a BBC documentary shortly before the 2024 US presidential election.
The ruling did not decide whether Trump proved his claims or suffered damages.
- Who
- Donald Trump is suing the BBC.
- What
- A judge allowed Trump’s defamation claim to proceed but dismissed his unfair trade practices claim.
- When
- The ruling was issued on November 10, 2026.
- Where
- The case is in federal court in Florida.
- Why
- Trump alleges the BBC edited his speech in a misleading way that damaged his reputation.
Donald Trump
BBC
Liability
Donald Trump
Trump alleges the BBC defamed him by misleadingly editing his speech.
BBC
The BBC has apologized for the misleading edits but denies liability for defamation.
The clip
Donald Trump
Trump says the edit made it appear he urged supporters to storm the Capitol.
BBC
The BBC has acknowledged that the edits were misleading.
Trump delivered the speech whose excerpts were later edited together by the BBC.
The edited speech appeared in a BBC Panorama documentary.
Trump filed his lawsuit against the BBC in Florida federal court.
Judge Jeffrey Kuntz allowed Trump’s defamation claim to proceed and dismissed his unfair trade practices claim.
- Damages sought
- US$10 billion
- Judge
- Jeffrey Kuntz
- Court location
- Florida
- Speech date
- January 6, 2021
- Documentary
- BBC Panorama
- Lawsuit filed
- December 2025
5 sources
Judge Declines To Dismiss Donald Trump’s Defamation Claim Against BBC
Juez rechaza solicitud de la BBC y permite que continúe la demanda por difamación de Trump
Un juge américain refuse de rejeter la plainte pour diffamation de Donald Trump contre la BBC, permettant à la procédure de se poursuivre
Usa, giudice respinge la richiesta della Bbc di archiviare la causa per diffamazione di Trump
US judge says Trump’s US$10 billion BBC defamation case can proceed
What people are saying
Whether President Trump can prove these claims and establish he sustained damages at summary judgment or trial is left for another day.
Trump properly alleges that BBC spliced and edited together a twelve-second segment that resulted in reputational harm based off ‘deceptive and defamatory distortion.’
We will continue fighting against, and defeating, all of those who try to deceive the American People!
error of judgment