Nicolai Haugsted
Trump catches lucky break as court pauses bid to expose his finances.
A federal judge has handed President Donald Trump a temporary legal victory in his high-profile defamation lawsuit against the BBC, delaying a court order that would have required him to disclose extensive financial records tied to his business empire.
The ruling pauses the disclosure while the court considers objections raised by Trump’s legal team.
According to The Daily Beast, U.S. District Judge Roy Altman, who was appointed by Trump, agreed to temporarily halt an earlier order issued by U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett.
Lett had directed Trump to begin producing financial information linked to more than 400 companies held by the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust.
Shortly before that deadline, Trump’s lawyers filed an emergency motion arguing that the BBC was seeking “a shockingly broad amount of information” from the trust, including tax returns, ownership documents, property deeds, appraisals, financial statements, licensing records and digital asset histories.
Altman concluded that pausing the order was appropriate while the dispute is resolved.
“This is a compelling argument,” the judge wrote. “If the Plaintiff’s amendment obviates the need to compel a non-party to disclose confidential financial information, we think it’s prudent to enter a brief stay of the Order until the amendment request is resolved.”
Dispute centers on $10 billion lawsuit
Trump filed the lawsuit against the BBC last year, seeking $10 billion in damages.
He alleges the broadcaster “intentionally, maliciously, and deceptively” edited portions of his Jan. 6, 2021, speech, creating the false impression that he encouraged supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol.
According to the lawsuit, the edits damaged the value of Trump’s brand, real estate holdings and business interests.
BBC argues financial records are relevant
Because Trump claims the documentary harmed his businesses, the BBC has argued it is entitled to examine financial records connected to those claims.
During a previous hearing, Judge Lett said the president had placed the value of his businesses directly at issue.
“All of President Trump’s brand, properties, and businesses are impugned or said to have been impugned,” she said. “Reputational, economic damages—all of that is now at issue in this case.”
The BBC has also argued that Trump “cannot plausibly claim that the documentary harmed his reputation” because he won the 2024 presidential election shortly after the program aired.
For now, the order compelling the release of the records remains on hold while the court considers Trump’s objections and a proposed amendment to his damages claims.
