BBC asks US court to dismiss Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 1:22 PM EDT, March 16, 2026

LONDON (AP) — The BBC filed a motion Monday asking a U.S. court to dismiss President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against it, warning that the case could have a “chilling effect” on robust reporting on public figures and events. The suit was filed in a Florida court, but the British national broadcaster argued that the court did not have jurisdiction, nor could Trump show that the BBC intended to misrepresent him.

Trump filed a lawsuit in December over the way a BBC documentary edited a speech he gave on Jan. 6, 2021. The claim seeks $5 billion in damages for defamation and a further $5 billion for unfair trade practices. Last month a judge at the federal court for the Southern District of Florida provisionally set a trial date for February 2027.

The BBC argued that the case should be thrown out because the documentary was never aired in Florida or the U.S. “We have therefore challenged jurisdiction of the Florida court and filed a motion to dismiss the president’s claim,” the corporation said in a statement.

In a 34-page document, the BBC also argued that Trump failed to “plausibly allege facts showing that defendants knowingly intended to create a false impression.”

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/trump-media-britain-bbc-lawsuit-defamation-243128261f72a22de342d0cc02c0e4f1

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Link to FILING (PDF) - https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.flsd.703382/gov.uscourts.flsd.703382.36.0_2.pdf

[Frasier Balzov]

1. "Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!"

If the BBC must go on trial, then that Trump tweet needs to be their Exhibit A.

Absolute defense to the defamation claim.

[Jacson6]

2. The problem is that it was available on the Internet in the USA & FL.

The BBC argued that the case should be thrown out because the documentary was never aired in Florida or the U.S.

This will most likely go to trial. BBC even has a world wide subscription to receive their news videos and documentary. I don't agree with Trump's tactics, but the court has to be neutral and let a jury decide the issues. IMHO.

[spanone]

3. trmp does not believe in freedom of the press.

At home or around the world.

[cstanleytech]

4. Gotta agree that there isn't jurisdiction inside the US so it's the wrong Court to hear any such case.