Trump took the BBC to court for $10 billion. Now the BBC says there’s a problem with his own lawsuit

The BBC has asked a federal judge to step in and warn President Donald Trump that sanctions could follow if he keeps disregarding his discovery obligations in the $10 billion defamation lawsuit, according to Law&Crime. The broadcaster says Trump has failed to produce materials he previously agreed to turn over.

The Trump BBC lawsuit stems from the 2024 documentary Trump: A Second Chance?, which edited together two parts of his January 6, 2021 speech. The clips were delivered about 55 minutes apart, but the edit made them appear as one continuous statement. The BBC apologized, acknowledging that the edit created a mistaken impression that Trump had made a direct call for violent action.

The broadcaster has consistently maintained that the mistake does not rise to the level of defamation, while Trump claims the edit was a malicious act designed to damage his reputation and his business interests. The BBC now says continued delays in the discovery process are harming its ability to prepare a defense in the Trump BBC lawsuit.

The BBC says Trump promised documents he still has not handed over

Discovery is the phase of a lawsuit where both sides trade information, documents, and evidence to build their cases. BBC attorney Charles Tobin accused Trump of failing to provide numerous materials in an email that was later filed with the court. The BBC argues the documents are essential to its defense, particularly on whether a Florida court has jurisdiction over the matter.

The broadcaster also says it needs the information to challenge Trump’s claim that the documentary falsely portrayed him as having incited the Capitol attack. However, Trump’s legal team has countered that the BBC’s demands are too broad. The lawyers have argued that the January 6 requests could turn a defamation case into a separate trial covering every detail of that day.

The scope of the discovery fight has been large. The BBC has issued dozens of third-party subpoenas seeking communications, call logs, calendars, and other evidence that might reveal Trump’s intent and knowledge regarding the rally and his speech. The broadcaster has also pushed for records and testimony involving people close to him, such as former White House officials.

Financial records have become another point of contention. As Trump initially alleged that the documentary caused significant economic damage to his brand and business empire, the BBC sought records from the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust. A magistrate judge ruled earlier this summer that some of the records were relevant to his damages claims, though the court narrowed the requested time period.

Trump later attempted to limit his financial claims, which led to a temporary pause on the disclosure of some financial material while the court weighed in. The BBC says the delays are causing it “extreme prejudice,” as the discovery deadline is set for December 18, 2026.

The court has not imposed any sanctions so far. However, the BBC is asking the judge to either hold a hearing or issue an order stating that sanctions will follow if Trump does not comply immediately. At this stage, the broadcaster is only asking the court to set the stage for potential penalties.

Sanctions have surfaced in this case before, as Trump’s own lawyers previously threatened to seek them against the BBC. This happened during a separate dispute over an attempt to depose former White House counsel Pat Cipollone, as Trump’s side argued that his testimony would be irrelevant and protected by privilege. The BBC countered that his knowledge of Trump’s intentions on January 6 was critical to its defense.

The court has already limited some of the BBC’s efforts, including quashing a subpoena for former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson. However, the judge determined that the case should stay focused on the specific dispute over the documentary edit rather than becoming a reinvestigation of the events of January 6.

The broader lawsuit remains active as the BBC pushes for dismissal, arguing that the documentary was not broadcast or made available in Florida. The broadcaster also maintains that Trump has failed to show legally actionable harm or actual malice, the high standard public figures must meet in defamation cases. Trump continues to dispute those points and is moving forward with the litigation.

A judge said earlier this year that the case could go to trial in 2027, which leaves room for more procedural fights over what information is truly relevant to the $10 billion claim.