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BBC challenges Trump lawsuit in Florida court
The British broadcaster has filed a motion to dismiss Donald Trump's $5 billion defamation lawsuit, arguing the Florida court lacks jurisdiction and the former U.S. president failed to present a valid claim.
Key arguments in BBC's motion
In court documents submitted on Monday, the BBC contended that the Florida venue is "improper" and that it lacks "personal jurisdiction" over the corporation. The broadcaster also asserted that Trump's lawsuit does not meet legal standards for defamation.
Additionally, the BBC argued that the Panorama documentary at the center of the dispute was not broadcast in the U.S. and therefore could not have defamed Trump in the country. The corporation also noted that Trump had not demonstrated any tangible harm, pointing to his re-election and strong performance in Florida after the program aired.
Dispute over documentary editing
Trump's lawsuit stems from a 15-second clip in the Panorama documentary that edited his January 6, 2021, speech. The original speech included the lines: "We're going to walk down to the Capitol, and we're going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women," followed by, "And we fight. We fight like hell," over 50 minutes later.
The edited version in the documentary presented the statements as a continuous call to action: "We're going to walk down to the Capitol... and I'll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell."
The BBC previously acknowledged the edit created a "mistaken impression" that Trump had directly incited violence but maintained there was no basis for a defamation claim.
Internal fallout and legal strategy
The controversy over the edit led to an internal BBC memo criticizing the handling of the speech, which contributed to the resignations of Director General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness in November.
In its latest filing, the BBC also requested a stay on all pre-trial discovery-a process where parties exchange evidence-until the court rules on the motion to dismiss. If the case proceeds, a trial date has been proposed for 2027.
BBC's stance on the lawsuit
A BBC spokesperson stated:
"As we have made clear previously, we will be defending this case. We are not going to make further comment on ongoing legal proceedings."
Trump's legal team has not yet responded to the BBC's motion.
