Donald Trump's lawyers have filed an emergency motion to alter his lawsuit against the BBC, aiming to prevent the broadcaster from accessing his financial records. The move comes after the BBC sought to examine Trump's finances as part of the discovery phase of the legal battle.
Background of the Lawsuit
Trump is suing the BBC for $10 billion over a Panorama episode aired during the 2024 campaign. The programme edited together sentences from his January 6th speech, which the BBC has apologised for, stating the edit didn't meet their standards and could mislead viewers into thinking the sentences were spoken consecutively.
However, the BBC has not admitted that the edit could wrongly suggest Trump was encouraging his supporters to march on the Capitol. That conclusion has been reached by numerous legal bodies, including courts and committees, and is not considered controversial.
Discovery Phase and Financial Records
Trump's claim that his "brand, properties and businesses" were damaged by the programme, which was not broadcast in the US, led the BBC's lawyers to request his financial records. During discovery, Trump was ordered to provide information on the financial performance of hundreds of his companies.
Trump opposed this, and on Wednesday his lawyers submitted an emergency motion to change the lawsuit. The proposed new complaint focuses on "personal reputational harm as the primary compensatory injury," according to Trump's lawyer Alejandro Brito.
On Thursday afternoon, the judge allowed Trump to reword his complaint, keeping his financial performance under wraps.
Ed Miliband's Washington Visit
In other news, Ed Miliband, the newly appointed Foreign Secretary, visited Washington for the first time. He met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, ignoring reporters' questions about his past comments on Trump. The 90-minute meeting was described as "productive and warm" by the UK side, covering topics like NATO, Ukraine, and the Strait of Hormuz.
The US State Department's readout was more focused on urging Europe to increase defence spending. Spokesperson Tommy Pigot said: "The two discussed the importance of Europe taking on a greater role in its own security."
Trump's Vegas Speech
Trump also gave a speech in Las Vegas, his third visit since his second inauguration. The location is notable because of his "no tax on tips" policy, which resonates in a city with a large hospitality industry. However, Vegas also has many undocumented workers, a topic Trump avoids.
Despite the focus on tips, Trump's speech veered into other topics like "the communists are coming" and "I want to fire the Supreme Court." His approval rating stands at 38%.
