BBC asks court to subpoena Donald Trump family members in $10 billion defamation case

The BBC is seeking to subpoena three members of President Donald Trump’s family as the broadcaster builds its defense against Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit, according to a Friday court filing reported by The Hill. In the filing, BBC attorneys argued that Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner “have personal knowledge” relevant to the dispute and that the witnesses are “likely” to provide information needed for the case.

The request is framed as part of the BBC’s efforts to develop evidence and narrow issues as the litigation proceeds. The filing indicates the BBC is pursuing testimony from family members connected to Trump’s communications and personal involvement, positioning their purported knowledge as material to resolving the claims at the center of Trump’s defamation lawsuit.

Trump’s legal action, described as seeking $10 billion in damages, is tied to allegations that the BBC published content Trump says is defamatory. The subpoena request reflects an effort by the BBC to test and contest Trump’s narrative through testimony from people alleged to have direct familiarity with the underlying facts.

BBC attorneys’ argument that the witnesses have personal knowledge suggests the broadcaster is aiming to obtain evidence that may not be fully captured by public statements or documents. By seeking subpoenas, the BBC is asking the court to authorize legally enforceable steps to secure testimony rather than relying only on voluntary cooperation.

The identities of the proposed witnesses also matter procedurally because testimony from close family members typically implicates unique considerations, including privacy and the scope of relevant inquiry. The court will ultimately decide whether to grant the subpoenas and, if so, what limits apply to their scope, timing, and the specific topics for questioning.

As the case advances, the subpoena fight is likely to shape pretrial logistics, including deadlines for depositions or testimony and the degree to which the parties can seek documents or communications. For Trump’s side, the prospect of additional compelled testimony from family members may affect how it frames what is at issue and what evidence it expects to rely on.

For the BBC, obtaining testimony could bolster its ability to challenge elements of Trump’s defamation claims, including factual assertions central to whether the challenged content was false or otherwise actionable under applicable defamation standards. If the court denies the request, the BBC may have to adjust its evidence strategy and rely on other witnesses or records it can obtain without family subpoenas.