A federal judge has ordered President Donald Trump to submit to questioning under oath in his lawsuit against the BBC after the broadcaster accused him of delaying a deposition over its misleading editing of his Jan. 6, 2021, speech.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A federal judge in Florida ordered President Donald Trump on Thursday, Oct. 22, to sit for a deposition by Dec. 11 in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation, rejecting further delays after his attorneys sought to postpone questioning until January.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett issued the order in Miami after BBC lawyers argued that Trump had failed to make himself available for questioning despite initiating the lawsuit in December 2025.
According to The Associated Press, the judge directed Trump to complete his deposition before the Dec. 18 discovery deadline, warning that failure to comply could result in sanctions, potentially including dismissal of his case.
The lawsuit concerns a BBC documentary that edited portions of Trump’s Jan. 6, 2021, speech before the U.S. Capitol riot. Trump’s attorneys contend that the editing falsely portrayed him as directly encouraging supporters to engage in violence.
The BBC subsequently acknowledged that the editing created a misleading impression and apologized, but maintains that the broadcast did not legally constitute defamation.
The dispute prompted resignations among senior BBC executives and eventually led Trump to seek $10 billion in damages for alleged defamation and deceptive trade practices.
The latest court order follows weeks of disagreement over when the president would answer questions under oath.
According to court filings described by The Washington Post, BBC attorneys first requested deposition dates in July. Both sides subsequently agreed to Oct. 16.
However, Trump’s legal team notified the broadcaster Sept. 28 that he could no longer appear on that date because of “other matters of national importance.”
His attorneys indicated they would provide another date but later informed the BBC that Trump would not be available until January 2027, after the scheduled conclusion of discovery.
The BBC objected, arguing that the president could not initiate litigation and then prevent the opposing party from obtaining testimony necessary to defend itself.
“Two months of discovery remaining, the BBC still has not been able to depose, and does not even have a schedule to depose, the most central figure in this case: Plaintiff himself,” BBC attorney Charles D. Tobin wrote.
The broadcaster subsequently noted that Trump had traveled to Georgia on Oct. 16 for a campaign rally before attending a Republican National Committee fundraiser at his Mar-a-Lago property in Florida.
BBC attorneys questioned whether those activities justified postponing the deposition, arguing that Trump’s legal obligations remained in effect despite his presidential duties.
The dispute prompted an earlier warning from Judge Lett that continued delays could result in penalties.
“The court has admonished plaintiff for his lack of participation to no avail,” Lett wrote in an Oct. 16 order.
“Going forward, the court expects strict compliance with its order, the failure of which will lead to sanctions.”
Trump’s attorneys have maintained that the president is pursuing accountability for what they describe as deliberately misleading election-related reporting.
A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team previously accused the BBC of defamation and reckless election interference, arguing that the broadcaster should face consequences for its handling of the documentary.
The BBC maintains that its editing errors do not establish the legal elements necessary to prove defamation or justify the damages Trump seeks.
The litigation has also produced a dispute over testimony from former special counsel Jack Smith, who previously investigated Trump’s efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results and events surrounding Jan. 6.
BBC attorneys have sought Smith’s testimony, arguing that his investigative knowledge is relevant to the circumstances surrounding Trump’s speech and the Capitol riot.
Trump’s lawyers have challenged the subpoena, maintaining that Smith lacks necessary firsthand knowledge and that his previous reports and testimony already provide sufficient information.
The judge must address that dispute alongside the remaining discovery issues.
Trump’s deposition is expected to focus on the circumstances surrounding the broadcast, his allegations of reputational harm and evidence supporting the damages sought in the lawsuit.
The order does not determine whether the BBC defamed Trump or whether the president is entitled to compensation.
Instead, it requires Trump to participate in the evidence-gathering process before the case proceeds toward further litigation.
Under Thursday’s ruling, the president must appear for questioning by Dec. 11, with the discovery period scheduled to conclude one week later.
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