US federal judge has allowed President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) to proceed, rejecting the broadcaster’s attempt to have the case dismissed.
However, US District Judge Jeffrey Kuntz, sitting in Florida, dismissed Trump’s separate claim that the BBC violated unfair trade practices laws.
In his Tuesday ruling, Kuntz said Trump had sufficiently demonstrated that the BBC’s editing of his January 6, 2021, speech could have damaged his reputation and that the broadcaster knew or should have known the resulting footage was misleading.
The decision does not establish that the BBC is legally responsible for defamation. Trump must still prove his allegations and demonstrate that he suffered damages as the case progresses.
Trump Accuses BBC of Misleadingly Editing January 6 Speech
Trump filed the lawsuit in December 2025, accusing the BBC of deliberately manipulating footage of his speech ahead of the January 6 Capitol attack.
The lawsuit centres on a BBC Panorama documentary broadcast shortly before the 2024 US presidential election.
According to Trump’s legal complaint, the broadcaster combined separate portions of his speech, including remarks in which he encouraged supporters to march towards the US Capitol and another section in which he told them to “fight like hell.”
The edited footage omitted a portion of the speech in which Trump called for peaceful protest, allegedly creating the impression that he had directly encouraged violence against the Capitol.
Trump is seeking at least $10 billion in damages over the alleged defamation.
BBC Previously Apologised Over Controversial Editing
The controversy surrounding the documentary intensified after a leaked internal BBC memo raised concerns about the broadcaster’s editorial decisions and possible political bias.
The revelations triggered a public relations crisis for the British broadcaster and contributed to the resignation of senior BBC executives.
The BBC subsequently acknowledged that the editing was misleading and apologised to Trump. However, it has consistently denied that its actions amounted to defamation or created legal liability.
Following Tuesday’s ruling, a BBC spokesperson said the organisation was surprised by the decision but respected the court’s authority.
The broadcaster also maintained that it remained confident in its legal position and would continue defending itself through the appropriate judicial process.
Trump Welcomes Court Decision as a Victory
Trump welcomed the ruling, describing it as a “huge victory” in a post on his social media platform.
He also vowed to continue challenging media organisations he accused of misleading the American public.
The lawsuit is among several legal actions Trump has pursued against media organisations over coverage he considers damaging or inaccurate.
The latest ruling allows the defamation claim against the BBC to advance to the next stage, although the court has not determined whether the broadcaster will ultimately be found liable.
The case is expected to bring further attention to questions surrounding media accountability, editorial standards and the legal boundaries of reporting on political figures.
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