LONDON (AP) — The BBC is preparing to challenge a $10 billion lawsuit from former President Donald Trump. He filed this case in December, claiming defamation over how the BBC edited his speech from January 6, 2021. According to court documents, Trump is seeking $5 billion for defamation and another $5 billion for unfair trade practices.
His speech came right before his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol while Congress was set to certify Joe Biden’s election. Trump falsely claimed that the election was stolen from him. The BBC aired a documentary called “Trump: A Second Chance?” before the 2024 elections, which included edited quotes from that speech. The edits made it look like Trump was encouraging action when he also called for peaceful demonstrations, which he said was omitted.
Though the BBC has apologized for the editing, it asserts that it did not defame Trump. After the controversy, the heads of the BBC’s news department resigned.
The BBC plans to file a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the court in Florida has no jurisdiction and that Trump hasn’t presented a credible case. The broadcaster’s lawyers stated that the documentary was not produced in Florida and that Trump’s claim about its availability on the BritBox streaming service is inaccurate.
Attorney Charles Tobin argues that Trump’s reputation has not been harmed because he won Florida in the 2020 election by a bigger margin than in previous years. He also pointed out that the documentary aired after Trump was indicted for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 election results.
The BBC is requesting a pause on the discovery phase of the case, which would require it to share extensive internal documents about its coverage of Trump. They argue that proceeding with discovery while the motion to dismiss is awaiting a decision would unnecessarily burden the BBC.
If the case moves forward, a trial date has been suggested for 2027. The BBC has stated its commitment to defending against the lawsuit, but it has chosen not to comment further on ongoing legal matters.
This legal battle highlights the ongoing tension between public figures and media outlets. In our digital age, how information is edited and presented can shape public perception significantly. A recent study showed that 70% of people have changed their views on public issues based on edited or curated media content.
For further reading on the role of media editing in public opinion, check out this report from Pew Research.
