Donald Trump has asked a federal court in Miami to reject the BBC's attempt to serve subpoenas on three members of his family. The filing targets Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner and Donald Trump Jr in his $10bn lawsuit against the British broadcaster.
The BBC wants testimony and records from the three family members about events surrounding Trump's speech on 6 January 2021. Trump's lawyers say the request seeks 'politically-driven leverage'.
Trump Challenges BBC Subpoena Request
The BBC filed its motion on 14 August after several attempts to serve the subpoenas in person failed. It asked the court to allow alternative service, including certified mail, after Secret Service protection had made personal service difficult.
A process server tried to reach Ivanka Trump and Kushner at their Florida home in May. Secret Service personnel later said the agency could not accept subpoenas on their behalf. Attempts to serve Donald Trump Jr at Trump Tower in New York also failed. The BBC then asked the court to approve another delivery method under federal subpoena rules.
The broadcaster says it first asked Trump's lawyers to accept service or help arrange delivery through the Secret Service. Trump's legal team declined. Trump responded on 21 August. His lawyers called the attempt 'cynical' and said it formed part of a discovery campaign they consider politically charged and overbroad.
The filing argues that the latest request cannot be separated from earlier discovery disputes. The court had not ruled on the BBC's alternative-service request in the latest available reporting.
What Ivanka, Jared and Don Jr Could Reveal in Discovery
The broadcaster says Ivanka Trump, Kushner and Donald Trump Jr have personal knowledge relevant to Trump's claims. It also says they may hold records that could help show what Trump intended before and after his speech.
The BBC cited congressional records about the family members' activities on 6 January. Those records refer to Ivanka Trump's presence during speech revisions, while Kushner's role in preparing a statement after violence began at the Capitol is also under scrutiny.
The subpoenas could bring people close to Trump into the discovery process if the court permits service. Trump's new filing seeks to stop that step before the BBC can compel testimony or documents.
The Panorama Edit That Triggered a $10BN Defamation Case
Trump filed the lawsuit in December 2025 over the 2024 Panorama documentary 'Trump: A Second Chance?'. He alleges that the programme deceptively spliced separate parts of his 6 January speech.
Trump says the edit made it appear that he directly encouraged violence at the Capitol. The BBC apologised in November 2025 after accepting that the edit created a mistaken impression.
The broadcaster denies that the documentary defamed Trump. It has sought dismissal of the case.
Trump initially alleged harm to his business interests and reputation. A US District Judge ordered in July that the BBC could seek some financial records because those claims placed Trump's finances at issue.
Trump later received permission to amend his complaint. He narrowed his claimed harm to personal reputation. That change reduced the immediate dispute over broad financial discovery.
The fight over testimony from his family has created another contested issue. The case was reassigned to US District Judge Jeffrey Kuntz in the Southern District of Florida in a court order that did not state a reason for the transfer.
A two-week jury trial remains scheduled for February 2027 if the case survives pending legal challenges. The court must first decide whether the BBC can use alternative methods to serve the family subpoenas.
