US President Donald Trump is set to go to trial against the BBC in February 2027.
The BBC’s application to halt discovery in the defamation case brought by Trump over the broadcaster’s editing of a speech he made was rejected this week, with a trial date set, the ABC reports.
In the lawsuit, Trump accused the BBC of defaming him by editing parts of a January 6, 2021 speech, including one section where he told supporters to march on the Capitol and another where he said “fight like hell”.
He is seeking $US10 billion ($15.1 billion) in damages.
The BBC’s response to Trump’s defamation lawsuit
In November 2025, Trump sent an official letter to the BBC threatening legal action, prompting the resignations of two senior BBC executives.
The BBC has apologised to Trump, admitting their editing gave the mistaken impression that he had directly called for violence from supporters.
In January this year, the broadcaster moved to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that Trump cannot demonstrate any actual harm, so there is no legal basis for the defamation claim.
“As Plaintiff failed to plead actual damages, claiming only vague ‘harm to his professional and occupational interests,’ his claim fails,” the BBC said.