The BBC is pursuing legal steps to compel testimony from members of the Trump family as part of an ongoing defamation lawsuit. Attorneys for the network have filed a motion in federal court in Miami seeking to issue subpoenas to Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner. These individuals were reportedly present during the president’s speech on January 6, 2021, at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. The BBC alleges that Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump were involved in revising the president’s remarks before he spoke. Both Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump remained with the president after his speech, according to the network’s legal team. Jared Kushner also played a role in advising the White House and its allies on how to respond to the violence that unfolded at the Capitol.
The BBC attempted to deliver subpoenas to the homes of these individuals in May, but law enforcement officials intervened and blocked those efforts, according to Politico. A similar attempt to serve Donald Trump Jr. was also unsuccessful, according to the filing.
The Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting President Trump, has stated that it cannot accept civil subpoenas on behalf of protectees, according to a report from The Hill. Attorney Troy Epstein explained in a May 14 email included in the court documents that the agency does not have legal authority to handle such civil process.
The BBC’s legal team argues that the court should allow alternative methods of serving these subpoenas since personal service is not possible. They claim this issue may be unprecedented, but a solution exists through judicial authorization for different service procedures.
The lawsuit stems from the BBC’s 2025 documentary about a speech delivered on January 6, 2021, which President Trump threatened to sue over. In response to those threats, the BBC apologized for its editing in 2025.
The legal battle has been complicated by the president’s team refusing to accept the subpoenas directly. Spokespeople for both the Trump family and President Trump’s legal team have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Earlier this year, a federal judge ordered President Trump to provide detailed financial information as part of the defamation suit, The Independent reported. That order was later paused by the court, but the broader legal process continues.
IMAGE: Donald Trump, Jr. speaking with attendees at the 2019 Teen Student Action Summit hosted by Turning Point USA at the Marriott Marquis in Washington, D.C.
Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere.. Photo: Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America / Wikimedia, taken 2019-07-24, CC BY-SA 2.0