The BBC is seeking to subpoena members of Donald Trump's family as part of its defense in a defamation lawsuit filed by the former president. The broadcaster argues that Trump's family members possess "personal knowledge" of his intentions behind remarks made outside the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, which are central to the case.
Trump initiated the lawsuit in December against the BBC and its subsidiaries, accusing the organization of "intentionally, maliciously and deceptively doctoring" a speech he delivered on January 6, 2021. The lawsuit specifically cites a "Panorama" episode that aired in 2024.
The BBC has acknowledged an editing error that inadvertently created the "mistaken impression that President Trump had made a direct call for violent action." However, the broadcaster is asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit, contending that the program did not meet the legal threshold for defamation and was not made available on its U.S. platforms.
Trump's legal team recently admitted they lacked evidence that the documentary had been accessible in the United States via the BBC's BritBox subscription service, BBC.com, BBC Select, or through U.S. broadcasters, as they had initially claimed.
Earlier this month, Trump agreed to remove BBC Studios, the BBC's commercial arm, from the lawsuit after the broadcaster argued the company played no role in the documentary's production. The judge presiding over the case granted Trump's request to delay the handover of financial documents to the BBC, which is seeking these records to support its claim that the documentary damaged Trump's business interests. Trump's legal team has stated that disclosing these financial records would cause him "irreparable harm."
A trial date has been scheduled for February 2027, should the case proceed. BBC News operates with editorial independence from the broader BBC corporation.