U.S. President Donald Trump gestures as he walks after deboarding Air Force One upon arrival at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S., August 4, 2026. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
A federal magistrate judge in Florida ruled Tuesday President Donald Trump must turn over detailed financial information to the BBC in his defamation lawsuit against the network.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett in the Southern District of Florida determined Trump's financial records were fair game because his lawsuit put his businesses' reputation at issue, opening the door for the BBC to examine over 400 companies owned by a Trump family trust, Politico reported.
Trump sued the BBC in December over the 2024 documentary that allegedly edited his January 6 speech, arguing it made him sound like he was inciting violence, thus damaging his reputation.
Lett argued, "all of President Trump's brand, properties and businesses are impugned," adding, "reputational, economic damages, all of that is now at issue."
Trump's lawyers attempted to avoid the ruling by narrowing their claim to reputation damage only, dropping assertions of economic injury, according to Politico.
"Even if there has been a harm to the brand, we are not pursuing that as part of our damages," said Trump attorney Alejandro Brito.
Politico reported Trump can appeal to U.S. District Court Judge Roy Altman, a Trump appointee, though his attorney declined to comment on whether they will.
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