Trial date set for Trump's legal case against BBC

US President Donald Trump's multi-billion dollar lawsuit against the BBC has been scheduled to go to trial in February 2027, according to court documents.

The trial date comes as a Florida judge rejected the BBC's application to delay the process of discovery in the case.

Trump is suing the BBC for defamation over the way an episode of Panorama edited two sections of a speech together, which made it appear that he had directly encouraged his supporters to storm the US Capitol on 6 January 2021.

The trial is scheduled to last two weeks and take place in Miami. A BBC spokesman said: "As we have made clear previously, we will be defending this case."

The statement added: "We are not going to make further comment on ongoing legal proceedings."

The BBC has indicated in previous filings that it will submit a motion to dismiss the case by 17 March 2026. The latest order does not impact that forthcoming filing.

The BBC has previously apologised to Trump over the Panorama edit, but rejected his demands for compensation and disagreed there was a basis for a defamation and trade practices claim.

The president is seeking up to $10bn (£7.5bn) damages in relation to the editing of his speech, which his lawyers have claimed was "false and defamatory".

The corporation's forthcoming motion to dismiss the case is expected to claim the Florida court lacks "personal jurisdiction" over it, that the court venue is "improper", and that Trump has "failed to state a claim", according to court documents.

Last month, the BBC asked the court to stay the process of discovery, where each side provides the other with relevant documents and evidence.

On Wednesday, the judge denied that request, giving reasons including that the application was "premature".