One of President Donald Trump’s own lawsuits has led to a court order that could force him to reveal detailed information about his finances.
A federal magistrate judge in Florida ruled on Tuesday that Trump must hand over financial records to the BBC as part of his defamation lawsuit, according to Politico. Trump sued the BBC over a documentary that he claims wrongly portrayed his January 6 speech and damaged his reputation.
After a hearing that lasted about three hours, U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett ruled that Trump’s financial records are relevant because he claimed the documentary harmed his reputation and businesses. The judge said that by making those claims, Trump opened the door for the BBC to examine his financial information.
The ruling could allow the BBC to review financial details linked to more than 400 companies owned by a Trump family trust.
Judge Lett said that Trump’s brand, businesses, and properties are all connected to the case because he claims they were harmed by the documentary. She explained that any claims of damage to his reputation or financial losses are now part of the legal dispute.
Trump still has the option to appeal the decision to U.S. District Judge Roy Altman, who was appointed by Trump. However, Trump’s lawyer, Alejandro Brito, did not say whether they plan to challenge the ruling.
Trump filed the lawsuit against the BBC in December over a 2024 documentary that included part of his January 6, 2021, speech, where he told supporters to “fight like hell.” He argues that the documentary edited his words in a way that made it appear he was encouraging violence, which he says damaged his reputation.
According to Politico, Trump’s legal team tried to avoid having to share his financial records by changing part of their case. They removed claims that the documentary caused financial losses or reduced the value of his businesses.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Brito told the court that Trump’s legal strategy had changed. He said the lawsuit is now mainly about protecting Trump’s personal reputation rather than seeking compensation for business losses.
Brito said the damages being sought are now different from when the lawsuit was first filed. He added that even if Trump’s brand suffered harm, they are no longer asking the court to award damages based on that.
The BBC’s lawyer, Chuck Tobin, argued that Trump’s personal reputation and business reputation cannot be separated. He said Trump built his public image around being a successful businessman and used that image during his presidential campaign. Because of that, Tobin argued, Trump’s businesses and personal reputation are closely linked, making his financial records relevant to the case.
