Trump's $10B BBC Lawsuit Heads to 2027 Trial

Judge sets tentative trial date for former president's defamation case against the British broadcaster.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A U.S. judge has set a tentative trial date of February 15, 2027 for former President Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC. Trump is suing the British broadcaster over a 2024 Panorama episode that he claims edited together two different sections of his January 6, 2021 speech in a way that gave the false impression he encouraged the Capitol attack.

Why it matters

The high-profile lawsuit represents an ongoing battle between Trump and the media over how his words and actions are portrayed, with the former president frequently accusing outlets of unfair or inaccurate coverage. The case also highlights the challenges media organizations face in fairly reporting on politically charged events and statements.

The details

According to court documents, U.S. District Judge Roy K. Altman rejected the BBC's request to delay the proceedings and set a tentative two-week trial beginning on February 15, 2027 in Miami. Trump is seeking $5 billion in damages for defamation and another $5 billion for unfair trade practices, claiming the BBC edit gave a 'mistaken impression' that he directly called for violent action on January 6.

  • On January 6, 2021, Trump gave a speech that was later edited by the BBC's Panorama program.
  • In 2024, the BBC aired the edited Panorama episode that is the subject of Trump's lawsuit.
  • On February 13, 2026, a U.S. judge set a tentative trial date of February 15, 2027 for Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who is suing the BBC for $10 billion over alleged defamation and unfair trade practices related to their editing of his January 6, 2021 speech.

BBC

The British Broadcasting Corporation, which is being sued by Donald Trump for $10 billion over their editing of his January 6, 2021 speech in a 2024 Panorama episode.

Judge Roy K. Altman

The U.S. District Court judge who rejected the BBC's request to delay the proceedings and set a tentative trial date of February 15, 2027 for Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the broadcaster.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“As we have made clear previously, we will be defending this case. We are not going to make further comment on ongoing legal proceedings.”

— BBC Spokesperson (mandatory.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide in the coming months whether to allow the trial to proceed as scheduled in February 2027.

The takeaway

This high-profile lawsuit underscores the ongoing tensions between former President Trump and the media over how his words and actions are portrayed, with the case highlighting the challenges journalists face in fairly reporting on politically charged events and statements.