Judge orders Trump to sit for deposition in BBC defamation suit by 11 December
A US federal judge has ordered President Donald Trump to give a deposition by 11 December in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC. The order followed BBC lawyers' claims that he was delaying his appearance.
A US federal magistrate judge, Enjoliqué Lett, ordered President Donald Trump on Thursday, 22 October, to sit for a deposition (sworn testimony given before trial) by 11 December in his lawsuit against the British public broadcaster BBC. Trump is seeking $10 billion (€8.6 billion) in the defamation case. The order matters because it affects how the case proceeds before the evidence-gathering period closes.
Why the court stepped in
The order came after BBC lawyers accused Trump of delaying his appearance. BBC attorney Charles Tobin said that with two months left in the discovery period, the defence still had not been able to question the plaintiff.
According to Tobin, Trump had first agreed to be deposed on 16 October but cancelled, citing a “matter of national importance.” The lawyer said the president was campaigning in Georgia that day. “He was participating in party politics and prioritized that over sitting for the deposition,” Tobin said.
If Trump fails to comply, he could face sanctions, including possible dismissal of his lawsuit, unless the discovery period is extended beyond 18 December.
Background to the case
Trump filed the suit in December 2025, accusing the BBC of defamation and deceptive and unfair trade practices over a documentary titled “Trump: A Second Chance.” The 33-page complaint described the programme as a “brazen attempt to interfere in and influence” the 2024 US presidential election.
The BBC has admitted editing together parts of Trump's 6 January 2021 speech, making it appear that he had encouraged violence at the US Capitol. The broadcaster apologised and two senior executives resigned, but it denies defamation.
