British state broadcaster the BBC is preparing to ask a U.S. court to throw out President Donald Trump’s multibillion-dollar lawsuit over what he says was a fake news misleading edit of his January 6, 2021 speech in a Panorama documentary, branding the case ‘legally flawed’ and ‘jurisdictionally unsound’.
Trump filed a US$5 billion (£3.7bn) claim in Florida last month, alleging defamation and breaches of trade practices laws after the programme stitched together two separate remarks from his speech before the Capitol riot. The BBC has acknowledged the edit was a mistake but rejects Trump’s characterisation of the documentary as “Fake News” or legally defamatory.
Court filings submitted on Monday show the broadcaster will argue that the Florida court has no personal jurisdiction over the BBC, that the venue itself is improper, and that Trump has failed to set out a valid legal claim. The state corporation also maintains that the programme was not broadcast in the United States and therefore could not have defamed the U.S. president there.
While the BBC previously apologised for the edit, it declined Trump’s demand for compensation and insists there is no evidence the documentary caused him harm. In its filing, the broadcaster points out that Trump went on to win re-election after the programme aired, carrying Florida by a decisive margin.
Trump has claimed the documentary was shown on the BritBox streaming service, an assertion the BBC disputes. It also argues that the programme was published with “actual malice.”
The controversy centres on how Trump’s speech was presented. During the address, he told supporters they would “walk down to the Capitol” and “cheer on” lawmakers, later adding the phrase “we fight like hell.” The Panorama documentary combined the two remarks, creating the impression of a single call to action. The BBC later conceded the edit gave a “mistaken impression” that Trump had directly encouraged violence, but argued this still fell short of defamation.
A leaked internal memo criticising the editing decision surfaced in November, prompting the resignations of BBC Director-General Tim Davie and Head of News Deborah Turness.
In its latest filing, the BBC has also asked the court to halt all discovery while the dismissal motion is considered. If the case proceeds, a trial date as far out as 2027 has been suggested.
As a legal strategy they should claim they’re not really a legitimate news organisation. NO ONE would argue with that.
👍
The edit was a mistake is an out for an ailing and sick British Institution on life support
And shines light on this cockroach and staunch megaphone advocate of British Imperialism
A clearing house for dirty laundry pawned off onto an unsuspecting British public albeit the world
Trump is treating this hard core bedrock source of propaganda with the contempt it deserves
And has shown it up to what it is – its philosophy standing and function
Existing as a vehicle to sow the seeds of manipulation malice and falsities
Unquaccinated sums it up nicely
My little rant there and Unquaccinated’s succinct to the point comment reminds me of the Abraham Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address
And Edward Everett
Edward Everett was a famous American statesman, scholar, and one of the most celebrated public speakers of the 19th century
He delivered the main speech at the Gettysburg cemetery dedication on November 19, 1863—a two‑hour oration
Who latter paid homage to Lincoln in saying that Lincoln’s short address accomplished in two minutes what Everett had TRIED to do in two hours
By the way all men are not created equal
Of the world
Mankind
Humanity
Out of interest
The BBC uses propaganda. Trump uses propaganda.
Just more of Trump sucking up news oxygen, same as when it was him and Hillary Clinton sucking all the oxygen out of the news.
And look at how long till the case is heard. A whole lotta time to fill news feeds with this bs.
When is he arresting Hillary again?
BBC aka Ministry of Lies and Propaganda. It should be smashed into a thousand pieces and scattered to the wind.
100%, but after being hammered for billions first.