Worth $10 billion...a defamation lawsuit filed by Trump against the BBC has withstood an attempt to drop it

A federal judge in Florida maintained the defamation lawsuit filed by US President Donald Trump against the BBC, while dismissing claims in which the president relied on a state law related to unfair trade practices. “Whether President Trump can prove these allegations and establish evidence that he suffered damages — whether at the summary judgment stage or at trial — is a matter for determination at a later date,” Judge Jeffrey Coontz of the Federal District Court for the Southern District of Florida wrote in his ruling on Tuesday.

However, Trump called the decision “a huge victory over the BBC which publishes fake news,” and also praised the judge whom he himself appointed to his position earlier this year. For its part, the British Broadcasting Corporation said in a statement: “We were surprised by this decision, but we respect the authority of the court, and point out that the case will now move to its next stage.

We remain confident in our position, and will continue to respond through the established legal paths.” Trump had filed a lawsuit against the BBC in December 2025, alleging that he had been defamed by the media organization through a documentary about his return to the political arena, broadcast before the 2024 elections. US Capitol.

Experts in the First Amendment to the US Constitution have questioned the strength of Trump's case, considering that this lawsuit is part of his ongoing legal campaign against the press. However, Judge Coontz noted that the BBC acknowledged that it had included Trump's words in a misleading way, which prompted the lawsuit.

The judge stated that the defamation allegations made by Trump appear to be valid, and he must reject the authority’s request to dismiss the case entirely. The judge also criticized New York Times v. Sullivan - a landmark Supreme Court case that established a strict legal standard that makes it difficult for public figures, like Trump, to win defamation cases.

Some conservative activists have pushed for a review of this standard, and Trump has similarly expressed a desire to "reform" libel laws.