BBC tries to have Trump’s $10bn lawsuit dismissed before trial

The BBC is attempting to have President Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit dismissed before it reaches trial, arguing that the Southern District of Florida court lacks jurisdiction. The lawsuit stems from a Panorama broadcast that Trump alleges wrongly depicted him as inciting the January 6th Capitol attack. The BBC acknowledges an edit gave a “mistaken impression” but claims it didn’t have the rights to distribute the program in the US.

The BBC’s motion to dismiss asserts that Trump has failed to demonstrate defamation or “actual malice,” and has not proven any cognisable injury resulting from the broadcast. They also state the program wasn’t available on BritBox in the US, as Trump claimed. The BBC has requested a pause to all procedures, including the discovery period, while the motion is considered.

A trial date has been tentatively set for 2027 if the case proceeds. The core of Trump’s complaint centers on a selectively edited clip of his speech before the January 6th events, where the BBC’s edit presented his statements about fighting as a direct call to violence, while the full context showed a call to support lawmakers.

(Source：The Times)