US President Donald Trump has dropped part of his lawsuit against the BBC, dismissing defamation claims against BBC Studios Distribution Limited and BBC Studios Productions Limited, according to fresh legal filings released on Thursday. However, his lawsuit against the British public broadcaster remains in place.
Legal documents state: "Plaintiff President Donald J. Trump and Defendants BBC Studios Distribution Limited and BBC Studios Productions Limited (together, the 'Studios Defendants'), by and through their respective undersigned counsel, hereby stipulate and agree that, in accordance with Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 41(a)(1)(A)(ii), all claims in this action asserted against the Studios defendants are hereby dismissed with prejudice, with each party to bear its own costs and attorney's fees."
Lawsuit Against BBC Continues
The filing explicitly states: "President Trump shall continue prosecuting his causes of action against Defendant British Broadcasting Corporation." Trump launched a $10 billion (£7.49 billion) lawsuit against the BBC over the editing of a 2024 Panorama documentary covering the US Capitol riots of 2021. He claims the edit harmed "the value of his brand, properties, and businesses."
Trump is seeking damages from a Florida court, accusing filmmakers of "intentionally, maliciously, and deceptively doctoring" footage capturing his speech on January 6, before his supporters stormed the Capitol building in Washington DC.
BBC Apology and Resignations
The BBC issued a formal apology for the "mistaken impression" created by the documentary, which was broadcast a week before the US election. Tim Davie, then BBC director-general, and Deborah Turness, BBC head of news, stepped down in the wake of the revelations.
Despite the apology, the BBC rejected Trump’s demands for compensation. BBC lawyers argued in February that the case should be thrown out of US courts as there was no evidence that the Panorama special was viewed in the US.
US Government Involvement and Discovery Disputes
The US government is now considering joining the continuing litigation, raising the prospect that documents requested by the BBC’s lawyers—including phone records and diary entries—could be withheld on grounds of executive privilege or risks to national security. Trump's lawyers have accused the BBC's representatives of conducting a "fishing expedition" after they sought financial information regarding a trust holding the President's business interests and assets.
The BBC's lawyers said details from the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust, managed by his eldest son Donald Trump Jr, were needed to assess the financial impact of the Panorama programme.
Trial Date Set
A trial date has been set for February 2027 in Florida.
