BBC seeks Trump Jr, Ivanka Trump and Kushner testimony in $10 billion defamation case

The BBC is seeking to subpoena Donald Trump Jr, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner for testimony in a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British broadcaster. Lawyers for the corporation argue that all three family members have personal knowledge about President Trump's intentions when he delivered his speech on 6 January, 2021, as the attack on the US Capitol was beginning.

The BBC maintains that the documentary it aired in the UK in 2024 defamed Trump by editing his speech in a way that suggested he endorsed violence against the Capitol. The network has apologized for the editing mistake but insists it does not provide a valid basis for Trump's lawsuit. The subpoenas seek deposition testimony and relevant documents, but efforts to serve them have faced obstacles.

Court filings show that the BBC attempted to serve the subpoenas at Kushner and Ivanka Trump's Miami home in May, but police prevented the attempt. Subsequent attempts to serve Trump Jr at Trump Tower, New York, and the Trump Organization's offices in New York were also unsuccessful. In a motion filed in federal court in Miami, the BBC is now asking the court to either allow service by mail or to permit service through President Trump's lawyers.