As Donald Trump prepares for his state visit to the UK, ongoing legal disputes stemming from the controversial Steele dossier threaten to overshadow diplomatic festivities, with costs and accusations still unresolved.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s forthcoming state visit to the UK later this month is set to revive tensions stemming from his protracted legal dispute with Christopher Steele, the former British spy behind the infamous Steele dossier. The dossier, which contained unverified and incendiary claims alleging Russian possession of compromising material on Trump and suggesting ties between his 2016 election campaign and Russia, has been at the heart of various investigations and legal battles over the past several years.
Christopher Steele, who founded Orbis Business Intelligence, was awarded more than £600,000 in legal costs after successfully defending himself against Trump's lawsuit, which sought to challenge the dossier's damaging claims. The High Court in London dismissed Trump’s data protection lawsuit, ruling that there were no compelling reasons for the case to proceed to trial. The judge noted Trump's considerable delay in addressing the dossier's impact on his reputation, which weakened his legal position. According to court reports, Trump has so far refused to pay approximately £290,000 in legal fees, prompting warnings from the court that failure to settle could limit his ability to participate in further related proceedings.
The costs awarded to Steele’s company continue to accumulate, rising daily and expected to be even higher by the time Trump’s official visit to the UK commences. During the visit, King Charles and Queen Camilla will host Trump and his wife Melania at Windsor Castle for a state banquet, the highlight of his stay, scheduled between September 17 and 19. Parliament will be in recess during this period, a move viewed as likely preventing the controversy that might have erupted had Trump addressed the Commons, given his contentious standing in British political and legal circles.
At the heart of the original dispute were claims made in the dossier about Trump's personal conduct, including allegations of participation in sex parties in St Petersburg and associations with sex workers in Moscow, as well as accusations of bribery involving Russian officials to advance his business interests. Trump's legal team contended that these were “shocking and scandalous” falsehoods that caused significant personal and reputational harm. However, Orbis Business Intelligence maintained that the dossier was never intended for public release and that its publication by the media was unauthorized.
This legal saga adds to Trump’s extensive portfolio of ongoing legal challenges, including civil fraud trials and multiple criminal investigations in the United States. The UK court rulings and resulting financial penalties underscore the international dimensions of Trump's legal battles and spotlight the sensitive relations between the UK and the US when it comes to matters of intelligence and political interference.
Government insiders have suggested that Trump’s non-compliance with the court order on legal costs, coupled with his impending arrival on British soil, could prompt fresh legal challenges, potentially turning the visit into a diplomatic headache. While Orbis Business Intelligence has declined to comment on the latest developments, the firm has previously expressed satisfaction with the court’s dismissal of Trump’s claims, describing the allegations as baseless.
As Trump prepares to set foot in the UK once again, the unresolved legal disputes surrounding the Steele dossier are likely to add a complex and controversial backdrop to what is slated to be a high-profile and ceremonious state visit.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative references a forthcoming state visit by former U.S. President Donald Trump to the UK, scheduled between September 17 and 19, 2025. This is a future event, indicating the content is current. However, the article includes information about a previous legal dispute over the Steele dossier, with the most recent developments dated April 3, 2025. This suggests that while the article is timely, it incorporates older information. The inclusion of updated data alongside recycled material may justify a higher freshness score but should still be flagged. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/03/donald-trump-ordered-pay-legal-costs-steele-dossier-lawsuit?utm_source=openai))
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes attributed to former U.S. President Donald Trump, such as his denial of the allegations in the Steele dossier. These quotes have been previously reported in various sources, including the Associated Press and The Guardian. The earliest known usage of these quotes dates back to October 2023. This suggests that the quotes are not original to this narrative and have been reused. ([apnews.com](https://apnews.com/article/trump-steele-dossier-lawsuit-london-russia-de956b079a1216526b84822b121acd04?utm_source=openai))
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Daily Mail, a UK-based tabloid newspaper. While it is a well-known publication, it is often considered to have a sensationalist approach to news reporting. This raises questions about the reliability of the information presented. Additionally, the article includes references to other reputable sources, such as the Associated Press and The Guardian, which adds credibility to the content.
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative discusses a forthcoming state visit by former U.S. President Donald Trump to the UK, scheduled between September 17 and 19, 2025. This aligns with previous reports about the visit. The article also references a legal dispute over the Steele dossier, with the most recent developments dated April 3, 2025. This suggests that the claims made in the narrative are plausible and consistent with known events. However, the inclusion of older information alongside the upcoming event may cause some confusion regarding the timeline.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents a forthcoming state visit by former U.S. President Donald Trump to the UK, scheduled between September 17 and 19, 2025, alongside information about a previous legal dispute over the Steele dossier, with the most recent developments dated April 3, 2025. While the inclusion of updated data alongside recycled material may justify a higher freshness score, it should still be flagged. The quotes used have been previously reported, indicating potential reuse of content. The source, the Daily Mail, is a well-known publication but is often considered to have a sensationalist approach to news reporting, raising questions about the reliability of the information presented. The claims made in the narrative are plausible and consistent with known events, but the inclusion of older information alongside the upcoming event may cause some confusion regarding the timeline.
