A federal judge has refused to dismiss President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation claim against the BBC over its spliced January 6 speech, writing that the broadcaster “created the story.”
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey T. Kuntz of the Southern District of Florida, in a November 10 order, refused to dismiss the defamation claim and dismissed a separate claim under Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
The case concerns the documentary “Trump: A Second Chance,” broadcast October 28, 2024. The court recited that a 12-second segment portrayed Trump as saying, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell and if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.” It said he “never said it” as a single statement: the two parts were spliced together, and he also told supporters to march “peacefully and patriotically.” “BBC admits Trump never made the statements as aired,” the order said.
“This was not trimming around the edges but creating something different than what was stated in the speech,” the court order said.
Trump filed the suit in December 2025. His amended complaint seeks $10 billion on the defamation count, according to the BBC’s motion to dismiss.
Kuntz wrote: “Whether President Trump can prove these claims and establish he sustained damages at summary judgment or trial is left for another day.”
A BBC spokesman said: “We are surprised by this decision but respect the Court’s authority and note the case will now proceed to the next stage.” The corporation added: “We remain confident in our position and will continue to respond through the proper legal process.”
The BBC must file its formal answer to President Trump’s claim by December 1. The case then continues through discovery, which includes documents and testimony, before potential summary-judgment motions. If it survives those, it proceeds to trial. Liability and damages remain undecided.
