Donald Trump ordered to hand over financial records in 7.5bn BBC defamation lawsuit

A judge has ruled that Donald Trump must hand over financial records sought by the BBC in the US president's 7.5 billion defamation lawsuit over the editing of a Panorama documentary

16:38, 22 Jul 2026

[Trump has dropped part of his lawsuit against the BBC]

Trump claims that the Panorama episode inflicted reputational and financial harm on him(Image: FILE/Getty)

Donald Trump has faced a blow in his 10 billion dollar (7.5 billion) defamation lawsuit against the BBC, as a judge has ordered the US president to disclose financial records requested by the broadcaster.

The American leader's legal team had tried to prevent this action, arguing it was "premature, improper, and especially burdensome". Mr Trump is pursuing significant damages in a Florida court over the editing of a Panorama documentary from 2024 about the US Capitol riots.

Deciding on the disclosure dispute, Judge Enjolique Lett approved the BBC lawyers' request for information from the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust, which holds the president's business interests and assets and is overseen by his eldest son.

[Trump is suing the BBC]

Trump is suing the BBC(Image: Vuk Valcic/SOPA Images/Shutterstock)

However, the judge's ruling can be appealed. In previous legal documents, the BBC's legal team dismissed accusations of a "fishing expedition", stating that the details were required to evaluate the financial impact of the programme.

The court documents read: "Defendants have requested information from these entities only because plaintiff alleges without limitation that his financial interests have been impacted by defendants' actions and because plaintiff is the sole beneficiary of a trust that owns or is associated with nearly 400 entities."

The trust, also represented by Mr Trump's legal team, had previously attempted to resist the demand, arguing: "Although plaintiff has alleged that his businesses have suffered damages as a result of the documentary, that alone does not give defendants carte-blanche to obtain sweeping financial discovery from hundreds of non-parties."

[The President has sparked concern]

Trump is pursuing significant damages in a Florida court (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

In taking legal action against the BBC, Mr Trump claims that the Panorama episode, aired just before the 2024 presidential election which he won, inflicted reputational and financial harm on him.

The documentary has been criticised for creating the impression that the US president had incited his supporters to invade the Capitol building on January 6 2021 after he lost the election to Joe Biden.

These allegations prompted then-BBC director-general Tim Davie to tender his resignation.

BBC chairman Samir Shah issued an apology on behalf of the broadcaster for an "error of judgment", acknowledging that the editing of the programme gave "the impression of a direct call for violent action".

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However, the broadcaster is attempting to get the case dismissed, cautioning about the "chilling effect" it could have on "robust reporting on public figures and events".

It has also questioned the authority of a Florida court to preside over the case given that the programme was never broadcast in the state or the US.

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