Judge denies BBC bid to dismiss Trump defamation lawsuit

A federal judge in Florida has denied the BBC’s bid to dismiss President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British broadcaster.U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Kuntz, an appointee of Trump, determined that the president’s complaint plausibly alleged that the BBC “acted with actual malice” by editing two comments in a documentary that made it seem like the plaintiff endorsed violence at a rally on Jan. 6, 2021, before the Capitol riot.Since the comments were separated by nearly 55 minutes, the judge says the BBC could have intentionally misrepresented Trump’s speech. “Editing is often required,” Kuntz wrote in his 40-page ruling on Tuesday. “However, given the time disparity between the two statements, the distance itself tends toward a plausible inference that BBC knew or should have known that the segment they were creating would not and could not have been a truthful statement. This was not trimming around the edges but creating something different than what was stated in the speech.”In a Truth Social post shortly after the ruling, Trump celebrated his “Huge Victory” against the BBC, which he called a “terrible abuser of the truth,” and cited a line in the order to prove his point.“Here, the news entity created the story,” Kuntz wrote. “BBC admitted as much by confirming it had edited a video to make it appear as though President Trump made a statement he never made.”Trump was particularly upset with the BBC documentary because it was released a week before the 2024 election. The judge acknowledged the timing, saying the documentary “would have the most impact” at that time of release.“We will continue fighting against, and defeating, all of those who try to deceive the American People!” Trump posted.A BBC spokesperson said the news outlet was “surprised by this decision” but ultimately respects the Florida court’s authority on the matter.“We remain confident in our position and will continue to respond through the proper legal process,” the spokesperson added. “It would be inappropriate to comment further while proceedings are ongoing.”JUDGE ORDERS TRUMP TO SIT FOR BBC DEFAMATION HEARING BY DEC. 11The defamation claim is moving forward, while a separate claim Trump brought under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act was tossed out by Kuntz.Trump is expected to give a sworn deposition in the case by Dec. 11, though that deadline could be extended. He filed the lawsuit last December, arguing the documentary harmed his reputation right before voters went to the polls two years ago.