A trial date for President Trump’s $10billion clash with the BBC has been set for February next year, but how is the case being allowed to continue when the broadcaster insists it cannot be sued in Florida?
BBC lawyers are trying to convince US district judge Roy Altman that the Panorama documentary in question was not broadcast in the Sunshine State – meaning the defamation case Trump is pursuing cannot be held there.
But lawyers for Trump have hit back with a flurry of reasons as to why they think that’s not true.
Court documents seen by GB News reveal the President’s legal team is relying on claims the BBC licensed the Panorama documentary to a production company called Blue Ant Media, which distributed the film across North America, including Florida.
Trump’s lawyers say: “In an action displaying awareness of wrongdoing, Blue Ant pulled the documentary from its catalogue on or about November 12, 2025.”
Trump’s team also say the BBC operates in the United States “not as an abstract concept, but in a constant manner.”
They argue: “The BBC has a concrete and continuous presence in the US, including in Florida, where the BBC maintains an office in Coral Gables.
“BBC Studios Americas Inc, a BBC subsidiary, also operates out of this location.”
A trial date for President Trump’s $10billion clash with the BBC has been set for February next year
|
GB NEWS
Lawyers go on to say the BBC “intentionally, purposefully and continuously transmits news content and other information into Florida through its multiple websites, to avail itself of the Florida market and its millions of subscribers”.
They say: “For example, the BBC offers web pages titled ‘Florida – BBC News’, and ‘Florida – BBC Weather’, among others. The BBC also offers web pages specific to cities in Florida.”
Trump lawyers insist the BBC has “thousands of subscribers in Florida” and any individual in the state or wider US can subscribe to its content and services.
The President’s team also argue part of the incriminating Panorama documentary was filmed at Trump’s so-called Winter White House, Mar-a-Lago, in Florida’s Palm Beach.
Court documents seen by GB News reveal the President’s legal team is relying on claims the BBC licensed the Panorama documentary to a production company called Blue Ant Media
|
GB NEWS
They insist: “The BBC explicitly instructed and ordered its producers to travel to Florida and utilise the forum for the purpose of creating the documentary and defaming President Trump.”
And, crucially, in a claim the BBC denies, Trump’s lawyers say the film was available on BritBox – the subscription service that offers BBC content to willing payers.
In a dig at the recently departed BBC General, Mr Trump’s legal team also say the “disgraced” former Director General Tim Davie even stated in his resignation letter that “despite a hugely competitive market, I am proud the BBC remains the most trusted news brand globally” – with globally being the key word.
Lawyers also say Floridians can also use Virtual Private Networks, or VPNs, to access BBC iPlayer in the state.
The BBC is planning to file a motion by Mid-March to get the case thrown out, arguing the court in Miami lacks “personal jurisdiction” over the corporation.
The case also cannot be held in the United Kingdom because, legally speaking, time has run out.
The statute of limitations for defamation cases is one year from the date the broadcast was first made.
In the meantime, a trial date from February 15 has been set for next year at the Wilkie D Ferguson Jr US Courthouse in Miami.