Trump’s $10bn defamation case against BBC can proceed

A federal judge in Florida has allowed US President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC to proceed, rejecting the broadcaster’s attempt to have the claim dismissed.

US District Judge Jeffrey Kuntz issued the ruling on November 10, allowing Trump’s defamation claim to move forward while dismissing a separate claim under Florida’s unfair trade practices law.

The lawsuit centres on a BBC documentary titled Trump: A Second Chance?, which aired ahead of the 2024 US presidential election. Trump accused the broadcaster of misleadingly editing his January 6, 2021, speech by combining separate portions of his remarks, making it appear that he directly encouraged violence ahead of the attack on the US Capitol.

The edited footage combined his call for supporters to march towards the Capitol with a later remark in which he said they should “fight like hell”, while leaving out his call for peaceful protest.

In his ruling, Judge Kuntz said the editing went beyond routine adjustments and could support an inference that the BBC knew or should have known that the resulting footage was misleading.

The BBC previously acknowledged that the editing was misleading and issued an apology. However, the broadcaster continues to deny legal liability and said it was surprised by the ruling while expressing confidence in its position.

Trump described the decision as a “huge victory”.

Despite the ruling, the court has not determined whether the BBC is liable for defamation. Trump must still prove his allegations and establish that he suffered damages as a result of the documentary.

The case has renewed debate over editorial standards, media accountability and the responsibility of news organisations to accurately represent public statements.