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A federal judge in Florida has allowed former US President Donald Trump’s defamation lawsuit against the BBC to proceed, rejecting the broadcaster’s attempt to have the case dismissed. However, Judge Jeffrey Kuntz dismissed a separate claim related to Florida’s unfair trade practices law within the $10 billion (£7.5 billion) lawsuit.
Trump’s legal action centers around a Panorama episode that edited together portions of a speech he delivered before the 2021 US Capitol riot. The former president alleges that the BBC “intentionally, maliciously and deceptively doctored” his remarks. While Judge Kuntz found the defamation complaint sufficient to move forward, he did not rule on the case’s substantive issues, noting that whether Trump can prove damages remains to be seen in later stages of the legal process.
Following the ruling, Trump described the decision as a “huge victory” in a post on Truth Social. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the BBC expressed surprise at the ruling but acknowledged the court’s authority, stating that the case will now proceed to the next phase. They also affirmed the broadcaster’s confidence in its legal position and commitment to responding through appropriate channels.
In addition to defamation, Trump’s lawsuit included a claim under Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. Judge Kuntz dismissed this claim, concluding that the documentary did not qualify as commercial speech. The BBC has apologized for the broadcast, explaining that it “gave the mistaken impression that Trump made a direct call for violent action,” but maintained that the program did not meet the requirements for defamation and was not accessible in the US
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