The BBC is seeking to have U.S. President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit dismissed, arguing that the legal action lacks merit and infringes on press freedom.

According to court filings, the British broadcaster plans to file a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, which stems from its editing of a Trump speech that allegedly made it appear as though he had urged supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol. Trump has accused the BBC of defamation, claiming the edited footage caused severe reputational and financial harm.

The lawsuit is one of the largest ever filed against a media organisation and comes amid Trump’s broader campaign against news outlets he accuses of bias and misinformation. The BBC has not publicly commented in detail on the case but has previously defended its journalism as accurate and in the public interest.

Legal experts say the case faces significant hurdles, particularly given the high legal threshold for defamation claims involving public figures in the United States, where plaintiffs must prove actual malice. Media law specialists also note that editorial judgment and context are typically protected under freedom of the press.

The lawsuit has drawn widespread attention from press freedom advocates, who warn that such legal actions could have a chilling effect on journalism. The case is expected to test the boundaries between editorial discretion and defamation claims involving political speech.

A judge has not yet ruled on the motion, and proceedings are expected to continue in the coming weeks.