A U.S. federal judge has ruled that former President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against Britain’s national broadcaster, the BBC, will move forward and go to trial in February 2027. The lawsuit centers on how the BBC edited segments of Mr. Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech — a day that has become pivotal in modern American political history — in a documentary aired just before the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
In the lawsuit, originally filed in December in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, Trump alleges the BBC defamed him by splicing together parts of his 2021 speech in a way that made it appear he incited violence during the U.S. Capitol riot. He is seeking $5 billion in damages for defamation and an additional $5 billion for unfair and deceptive trade practices under Florida law.
Judge Roy K. Altman rejected the BBC’s bid to delay the lawsuit’s progress — including a request to stay discovery, the pretrial fact-gathering phase — and instead set a provisional trial start date of February 15, 2027, for a two-week court proceeding in Miami.
The dispute stems from a BBC documentary titled Trump: A Second Chance?, which aired shortly before the 2024 U.S. election and included edited clips of the former president’s remarks from Jan. 6, 2021. According to court filings, the program cut together separate sections of Trump’s speech — made nearly an hour apart — into what looked like a continuous statement urging supporters to march on the Capitol and “fight like hell.”
The BBC has acknowledged that its editing gave a misleading impression of Trump’s words and issued an apology, but it maintains that its reporting did not legally constitute defamation and that the lawsuit lacks merit. BBC officials have also denied that the documentary was broadcast in Florida, arguing the federal court lacks jurisdiction, and have vowed to defend the case.
In a recent motion, the BBC attempted to halt discovery while it seeks dismissal of the entire case, asserting that Trump’s claims fail as a matter of law. Judge Altman rejected this effort as premature, allowing the discovery process to proceed while the BBC’s dismissal arguments are considered.
For Trump and his legal team, the lawsuit is another front in his broader challenge against what he describes as false or damaging media portrayals. The BBC case follows Trump’s recent defamation actions against several U.S. media companies, highlighting ongoing tensions between the former president and major news organizations.
The lawsuit underscores continued scrutiny over how media entities portray public figures and political events. It also reflects the broader debate over journalistic standards, editorial judgment, and legal accountability for alleged misrepresentation. As the case moves toward a 2027 trial, both sides will gather evidence, depose witnesses, and refine their legal strategies in what is likely to be one of the most closely watched media-law trials of the decade.
