The BBC will file a motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by the American president in a U.S. court over the editing of his speech on January 6, 2021, in the Panorama documentary.
In December 2025, the President of the United States filed a $5 billion (£3.7 billion) lawsuit in a Florida state court, accusing the BBC of defamation and violating trade practice laws.
According to documents filed in court on Monday, January 12, the BBC will argue that the Florida court lacks the necessary jurisdiction over the BBC, that the venue for the trial is "improper," and that Trump "has not articulated a valid claim."
The BBC previously apologized to Trump for editing his words but rejected his demands for compensation and disagreed that there are grounds for a defamation lawsuit.
The corporation will also argue in court that the Panorama program was not broadcast in the U.S. and did not defame the President of the United States.
BBC representatives are also expected to state that President Trump has not proven that the documentary caused him any real damage, considering that after the program aired, he was re-elected for a second presidential term and, in particular, won decisively in Florida.
Trump claims that the documentary was streamed on the Britbox service, which the BBC contends is not true.
The corporation will also assert that Donald Trump is not entitled to claim that the documentary was published with "actual malice."
The corporation notes that the excerpt that prompted the lawsuit lasts about 15 seconds, while the entire program runs for approximately an hour. The film features Trump supporters in detail and provides a balanced account of his path to re-election.
During Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021, before the riots at the U.S. Capitol, he told the crowd outside the building: "We’re going to the Capitol and we’re going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen." More than 50 minutes later in the same speech, he said: "And we’re going to fight. We’re going to fight like hell."
The Panorama program included a video clip in which Trump says: "We’re going to the Capitol... and I’ll be there with you. And we’re going to fight. We’re going to fight like hell."
The BBC previously acknowledged that such editing created a "false impression" that Trump "directly called for violent actions," but disagreed that there are grounds for a defamation lawsuit.
In November, British media learned of the existence and content of an internal BBC memo that criticized the editing of Trump’s speech, leading to the resignation of the corporation’s Director-General Tim Davie and news department head Deborah Turness.
In court documents filed on Monday, January 12, the BBC also requested the court to "stay all other disclosure proceedings" — the pre-trial process during which parties exchange evidence and information — until a decision is made on the motion.
In case the case continues, the documents indicate the anticipated time for the trial is 2027.
