Judge Orders Trump to Give Deposition in $10bn BBC Defamation Lawsuit by December 11

A United States federal judge has ordered President Donald Trump to sit for a deposition by December 11 in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), setting a firm deadline in a legal battle over the broadcaster’s editing of his January 6, 2021, speech.

US Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett issued the order on Thursday, October 22, following complaints from the BBC’s legal team that Trump had repeatedly delayed his appearance for questioning under oath.

The BBC’s lawyers told the court that both sides had agreed to a deposition date of October 16, but Trump’s legal team cancelled it, citing matters of national importance. The broadcaster argued that the delay was preventing it from gathering evidence needed to defend itself before the discovery period closes on December 18.

According to the Associated Press, the BBC’s lawyers said Trump had instead been offered as available for a deposition in January 2027, which would fall outside the existing timetable for exchanging evidence.

The judge warned that failure to comply with the December 11 deadline could lead to sanctions, potentially including dismissal of Trump’s lawsuit, unless the court extends the discovery period.

Trump filed the lawsuit in December 2025, seeking at least $10 billion in damages over a BBC documentary titled Trump: A Second Chance. The programme, broadcast before the 2024 US presidential election, featured excerpts from his January 6, 2021, speech to supporters before the attack on the US Capitol.

Trump alleges that the broadcaster deceptively edited separate portions of the speech to make it appear that he directly encouraged supporters to engage in violence. His legal team has accused the BBC of defamation and violating Florida’s laws against unfair and deceptive trade practices.

The BBC acknowledged that the editing created a misleading impression and apologised for the error. The controversy prompted the resignations of the broadcaster’s director-general and its head of news. However, the BBC denies that the editing amounted to defamation and is contesting Trump’s claims in court.

The dispute has also expanded to questions about evidence. The BBC has sought financial records from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club and associated business entities, arguing that the information is relevant to his claims for damages. Trump’s lawyers have challenged the requests, describing them as too broad and irrelevant to the case.

The broadcaster has also subpoenaed former US special counsel Jack Smith, who investigated Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Trump’s legal team has argued that Smith lacks relevant personal knowledge and that his testimony would be repetitive, while the BBC says his investigation could provide valuable evidence concerning the events surrounding the January 6 speech.

The deposition order represents a significant procedural development in the case, requiring Trump to answer questions from the BBC’s lawyers under oath within the court’s timetable. It does not determine whether the broadcaster is liable for defamation.

The case is part of a series of legal actions Trump has brought against media organisations over their reporting. Its outcome could have implications for the dispute over how news organisations edit and present political speeches, as well as the legal limits of defamation claims.

Both sides are expected to continue contesting the scope of evidence and other issues as the case moves towards the next stages of litigation.