US judge says Trump’s US$10bil BBC defamation case can proceed

US President Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC over a misleadingly edited clip of his January 6, 2021, speech has been allowed to proceed, according to a federal judge in Florida. However, the judge also dismissed Trump's claim that the BBC engaged in unfair trade practices.

Trump alleges that the BBC damaged his reputation by splicing together portions of his speech, including a section where he urged supporters to march on the Capitol and another where he called for "fight like hell." The edited clip, which omitted a section where Trump called for a peaceful protest, appeared in a BBC Panorama documentary shortly before the 2024 presidential election, which Trump won.

The lawsuit is one of several Trump has filed against the news media as part of a broader campaign against unfavorable coverage. US District Judge Jeffrey Kuntz ruled that Trump had plausibly alleged that the BBC damaged his reputation and knew or should have known that the clip was misleading. However, the judge did not decide whether Trump has proven those claims.

The BBC responded to the ruling, expressing surprise and respect for the court's authority. The broadcaster has previously admitted that the edits were misleading and apologized to Trump, but denies being liable for defamation. The BBC maintains that it remains confident in its position.

Trump hailed the ruling as a "huge victory" on social media, stating that his team will continue fighting against those who seek to deceive the American people. The BBC spokesperson noted that the broadcaster was taken aback by the decision but remains committed to its position.