Photo: BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI / AFP / Getty Images
A federal judge in Florida has allowed President Donald Trump to proceed with a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC. Trump accuses the British broadcaster of editing a documentary to make it seem like he incited violence during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The BBC denies causing any real harm to Trump and sought to have the case dismissed.
On Tuesday (November 10), U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Kuntz rejected the BBC's bid to dismiss the defamation claim. However, he dismissed Trump's claim under Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. The judge noted that the BBC's editing created "something different than what was stated in the speech," according to RTÉ.
The lawsuit centers on a BBC "Panorama" documentary that aired before the 2024 presidential election, which Trump won. The documentary spliced together parts of Trump's speech, making it appear as if he urged supporters to storm the Capitol. The BBC has apologized for the misleading edits, which led to the resignation of several senior executives, but maintains it is not liable for defamation.
Judge Kuntz stated that whether Trump can prove his claims and establish damages will be determined at a later stage. Trump celebrated the ruling as "A Huge Victory" on Truth Social, vowing to continue fighting against those who "try to deceive the American People," as reported by NBC News.
The BBC expressed surprise at the court's decision but respects the authority of the court. A spokesperson said the broadcaster remains confident in its position and will continue to respond through the legal process, according to UPI.