Trump’s $10 Bn Defamation Lawsuit Against BBC Set for 2027 Trial in Florida

President Donald Trump gaggles with reporters while aboard Air Force One on February 6, 2026 en route to Palm Beach, Florida. The President is spending the weekend at Mar-a-Lago, his private club. Photo: Samuel Corum/Getty Images

U.S. President Donald Trump’s $10 bn defamation lawsuit against the BBC will go to trial next year after a federal judge in Florida rejected the broadcaster’s bid to dismiss the case.

Court filings from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida show Judge Roy K Altman has scheduled the trial to begin on February 15, 2027. The lawsuit stems from a 2024 episode of Panorama that featured edited footage of Mr Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech.

The programme appeared to show Mr Trump urging supporters to march on the Capitol, using the line: «We’re going to walk down to the Capitol… and I’ll be there with you. And we fight. We fight like hell.»

His legal team argues the edit was misleading because it omitted his call for supporters to protest «peacefully», describing the broadcast as «false and defamatory».

BBC Director General Tim Davie resigned following the row over the Panorama edit. Photo: Reach Publishing Services Limited

The dispute triggered turmoil within the BBC, leading to the resignation of then director general Tim Davie and BBC News chief Deborah Turness. Davie acknowledged that «mistakes» had been made and said he would take «ultimate responsibility».

Mr Trump is seeking up to $10bn (£7.5bn) in damages. The BBC had argued the Florida court lacked jurisdiction and that the claim failed to meet legal standards, also disputing that the programme was broadcast or produced in the state.

A BBC spokesperson said the corporation would continue to defend the case and declined further comment while proceedings are ongoing.

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