Full Breakdown
BBC Subpoenas to Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner Stymied by Secret Service
8/18/2026, 1:12:49 AM
Core Event
Lawyers for the British broadcaster have filed a motion asking a U.S. district court to permit service of subpoenas on Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner—President Donald Trump’s eldest daughter and son-in-law—after they evaded personal delivery of the documents. The motion states that law-enforcement officers prevented a process server from serving the pair at their Florida residence and directed the BBC to coordinate service through the United States Secret Service. The Secret Service’s General Counsel replied that the agency is not authorized to accept service of the subpoenas and offered no guidance on alternative methods.
Background & Context
President Trump is pursuing a defamation lawsuit against the BBC over a 2024 documentary that edited together portions of his Jan. 6 speech. The broadcaster contends that the edited footage, which combined Trump’s invitation to “walk down to the Capitol” with later remarks to “fight like hell,” does not constitute defamation. The BBC has also sought testimony and documents from members of the president’s immediate family, asserting that they possess “personal knowledge” of Trump’s intentions on Jan. 6.
Official Statements & Responses
BBC attorneys argue that the third-party family members likely hold records relevant to multiple elements of the plaintiff’s claims, yet they have been unable to serve them because the individuals are protected by the Secret Service. The motion requests permission to serve the subpoenas by mail or another third-party method. The Secret Service’s General Counsel reiterated that the agency cannot accept service for the individuals and declined to advise on alternative procedures. Trump’s legal team, as noted in the filing, opposes any subpoena of the younger Trump family members.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I’ll be there with you, we’re going to walk down, we’re going to walk down,” — Ivanka Trump, to fight president – Ivanka Trump, to fight president
- “We fight like hell. And if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore,” — Ivanka Trump, to fight president – Ivanda Trump, to fight president
These remarks, originally part of the edited Jan. 6 footage, illustrate the contested language at the heart of the BBC’s documentary and the ensuing litigation.
