The BBC is moving to dismiss the $10 billion defamation lawsuit filed by Donald Trump regarding a Panorama program, as per court documents. The episode, which aired in 2024, sparked controversy for allegedly suggesting that the former US President incited his supporters to storm the Capitol building in 2021.
The contentious segment in question featured edited clips from Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021, where he was portrayed as encouraging the crowd to march to the Capitol and fight vigorously. Trump is seeking damages of up to $10 billion, claiming that the edited footage was misleading and defamatory.
In response, the BBC has filed documents contesting the lawsuit, arguing that the program was not produced or broadcast in Florida, where the legal action was initiated. The broadcaster asserts that Trump has not sufficiently proven that the documentary was aired with malicious intent, a crucial element in defamation cases involving public figures in the US.
A proposed trial date for 2027 has been suggested if the legal proceedings continue. Following the controversy, the BBC issued an apology for the editing error but maintained that Trump’s lawsuit lacks legal merit. Trump’s legal team condemned the edit as a blatant attempt to influence the election and accused the BBC of bias against the former President.
The Panorama program’s edit resulted in the resignations of Tim Davie, the BBC’s director general, and Deborah Turness, the head of BBC News. Davie acknowledged errors in judgment and took responsibility for the incident.
Requests for comments from the BBC regarding the lawsuit have been made.