Lawyers for Donald Trump filed court documents Saturday seeking to block the BBC from subpoenaing the former president’s children and son-in-law. The British broadcaster is seeking testimony and records from Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner as part of its defense against a $10 million defamation lawsuit filed by Trump in 2025.
The legal dispute centers on a BBC documentary regarding the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump’s lawsuit alleges that the broadcaster edited a clip to make it appear as though he had explicitly called for violent action. While the BBC has apologized for the specific editing of the clip, the organization maintains that it did not defame Trump.
In the Saturday filing, Trump’s attorneys characterized the BBC's move as a "politically-charged discovery campaign" and argued it was an attempt to gain leverage over the family rather than a search for relevant facts. The BBC’s motion, filed last week, stated that the family members likely possess "possession, custody, or control of records" pertinent to the case. The filing also noted that the U.S. Secret Service prevented process servers from delivering subpoenas to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner at their home in May, though the agency stated it simply could not accept legal documents on their behalf.
For the public and the media industry, the case tests the boundaries of defamation law regarding editorial splicing and the "actual malice" standard required for public figures to win such suits. A ruling in favor of the BBC’s discovery request would mean the family members must comply with document production and testimony, potentially revealing internal communications from the period surrounding January 6. Conversely, a block on the subpoenas would limit the scope of information the broadcaster can use to build its defense against the multi-million dollar claim.
The immediate impact will be felt by the legal teams who must now argue the merits of these subpoenas before a federal judge in the Southern District of Florida. The BBC has claimed its previous attempts to serve the family were thwarted at both private residences and Trump Tower. The court must now determine if the information held by the Trump family is sufficiently unique and relevant to justify the subpoenas. A hearing date or deadline for the judge's ruling on this specific motion was not reported in the filing.
Discovery is the formal process where parties exchange information and evidence before a trial. A subpoena is a writ ordered by a court to compel testimony by a witness or the production of evidence under a penalty for failure. The BBC did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the Saturday filing.