US President Donald Trump is asking a federal court to reject the BBC’s request to subpoena his daughter Ivanka Trump and son Donald Trump Jr., as part of a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the broadcaster.
The BBC wants testimony and documents from Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner about events surrounding Trump's January 6, 2021, speech and the subsequent attack on the US Capitol. The broadcaster argues that the three have relevant knowledge that could help it defend itself against Trump's lawsuit.
Trump's lawyers have described the BBC's request as a politically motivated effort to harass his family and have asked the court to reject the subpoenas. The BBC disputes that characterization and says the testimony could help establish important facts in the case.
The dispute stems from a 2024 BBC documentary that edited portions of Trump's January 6 speech. Trump alleges that the editing misleadingly made it appear that he had directly encouraged violence at the Capitol. The BBC has apologised for the edit but continues to deny that it amounts to defamation.
The court has not yet ruled on the BBC's latest request to subpoena the Trump family members.