BBC seeks dismissal of Trumps $10 billion lawsuit in US court

US President Sues BBC Over Documentary, Seeking $10 Billion in Damages

A lawsuit filed by US President Donald Trump against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has been challenged by the broadcaster, which is seeking to have the case dismissed. The lawsuit, valued at $10 billion, alleges that the BBC’s documentary “Trump: A Second Chance?” defamed and engaged in unfair trade practices.

The BBC has submitted a 34-page filing to the court, arguing that the case could have a “chilling effect” on reporting due to its potential impact on free speech. The broadcaster claims that the documentary never aired in Florida or the United States, where Trump filed his lawsuit, and therefore lacks jurisdiction.

Lawyers for the BBC argue that Trump’s case falls short of the high bar required for defamation suits, specifically actual malice. They also claim that the US president cannot plausibly claim that the documentary harmed his reputation, given its limited broadcast and the fact that it aired shortly before the 2024 presidential election.

Trump filed the lawsuit in December, seeking $5 billion in damages for defamation and an additional $5 billion for violating Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. The BBC has apologized for a specific edit of Trump’s speech, which was later removed from the documentary.

The case is set to go to trial in February 2027.

Source: Al Jazeera