Former US President Donald Trump faced a setback in his defamation lawsuit against the BBC when a judge ruled that he must provide years of financial records. This ruling compels Trump, who has long kept his business details private, to disclose documents revealing the financial status of his companies.
The BBC requested these records to counter Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit related to a Panorama documentary on the January 6 riots. US Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett confirmed her decision, stating that Trump could not claim damages without providing necessary evidence.
The Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, which owns his properties, has been instructed to submit financial documents within ten days and continue doing so weekly. The disclosure is limited to records from January 2023 onwards, rejecting Trump’s attempt to block the subpoena.
This order is a significant win for the BBC, promising a detailed examination of Trump’s financial information that he has shielded from public view. Trump’s lawyers argued against the disclosure, but the judge emphasized the relevance of the trust’s records to the case due to the alleged damages Trump claimed.
The dispute stemmed from a 2024 Panorama documentary on Trump’s speech before the Capitol attack. Although the documentary was edited to create a misleading impression, the BBC apologized and refused to pay compensation, maintaining that it did not defame Trump.
Unlike other media companies that settled with Trump, the BBC is challenging his allegations in court. Trump may appeal the disclosure order or adjust his claims before the case goes to a jury in Miami in February 2027.