Donald Trump ordered to reveal financial records in $10bn BBC lawsuit

Donald Trump must turn over financial records sought by the BBC as part of his $10bn (£7.5bn) defamation case against the broadcaster, a US judge has ruled.

The American president's legal team had claimed the move was "premature, improper, and especially burdensome", but its attempt to block it in a Florida court was unsuccessful.

Mr Trump is seeking damages over the editing of a Panorama documentary about the US Capitol riots, which aired in 2024.

In the latest development in the case, Judge Enjolique Lett granted the request by BBC lawyers for information from the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust, which holds the president's business interests and assets and is managed by his eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.

However, the ruling can be appealed by the president's team.

The BBC's legal team said in earlier court documents that the details were necessary to assess the financial impact of the programme, and rejected claims of a "fishing expedition".

Legal filings said they had "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, which is also represented by Mr Trump's lawyers, previously argued that although the president alleged his businesses 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".

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The Panorama episode in question was broadcast shortly before the 2024 presidential election, which Mr Trump won.

It featured clips of him addressing supporters on the day of the 2021 attack on the Capitol in Washington DC, after losing the previous election in 2020 to Joe Biden.

The clips included soundbites from the president spliced together. The lawsuit accuses the BBC of "intentionally, maliciously, and deceptively doctoring" his speech, and alleges the episode caused him reputational and financial injury.

Tim Davie, who was BBC director-general at the time, announced his resignation amid the fallout, and the corporation's chairman, Samir Shah, apologised over an "error of judgment".

The BBC accepted the editing of the programme gave "the impression of a direct call for violent action".

However, the broadcaster is seeking to have the case thrown out, warning of the "chilling effect" it would have on "robust reporting on public figures and events".

It has also challenged the jurisdiction of a Florida court to hear the case, given the programme was never aired in the state or the US.

(c) Sky News 2026: Donald Trump ordered to reveal financial records in $10bn BBC lawsuit