Solicitor Jessica Sarwat comments on Trump’s $1bn defamation claim against the BBC, in The Standard and City AM

Solicitor Jessica Sarwat comments on President Donald Trump’s threat to sue the BBC for $1bn over the misleading edit of a Panorama programme, and discusses the challenges involved in bringing a defamation case of this scale, in The Standard and City AM.

Jessica’s comments were published in The Standard and City AM, 11 November 2025.

“Trump’s threat has made headlines, but a billion-dollar defamation case in the UK is an uphill climb – particularly across borders.

“In the UK, general damages awards for libel cases are capped at around £350,000 – much lower than the billion-dollar figures seen in the US – and, even if a US court agreed to hear the case, it would face complex jurisdictional issues as the BBC is a UK broadcaster. In addition, the limitation period for any libel claim in the UK – which is usually one year from the date of the publication – has now passed.

“Ultimately, this claim looks more symbolic than legally sustainable.”