Trump BBC lawsuit: ordered to testify by Dec 11 in $10bn defamation case

The Trump BBC lawsuit took a dramatic turn on Thursday as a federal judge ordered Donald Trump to sit for a deposition by December 11. The $10 billion defamation case against the BBC has seen the British broadcaster accuse the US president of stalling to avoid answering questions under oath.

US Magistrate Judge Enjolique Lett issued the order from the bench at a court hearing in Miami on Thursday, according to the Associated Press. The ruling requires Trump to take questions from the BBC’s lawyers under oath. If he fails to comply, the court could impose sanctions, including dismissing the case.

Trump BBC lawsuit: the cancelled deposition

Trump had been due to give a deposition on October 16. He cancelled it, citing conflicts with his presidential duties and “matters of national importance.” His lawyers later proposed January 11 to 22 as alternative dates.

BBC lawyer Charles Tobin told the court that Trump’s team had been seeking his testimony since July. Both sides eventually agreed on October 16, but Trump’s lawyers cancelled on September 28. Tobin noted that Trump spent the cancelled day attending political events in Georgia.

“No plaintiff is above the law,” Tobin told the court.

Trump’s attorney Alejandro Brito defended the scheduling constraints, arguing that the president’s responsibilities extend beyond events listed on his public calendar. The judge was not persuaded. She also rejected Trump’s attempt to block video recording of the deposition, allowing the seven-hour questioning to be preserved on video.

The edited documentary

Trump filed the lawsuit in December 2025 in a Florida federal court. He accuses the BBC of intentionally misleading viewers into thinking he directed supporters to storm the US Capitol. The claim centres on the BBC Panorama documentary “Trump: A Second Chance,” which spliced together different parts of his January 6, 2021 speech.

The BBC has admitted the edits were misleading and apologised to Trump. But it denies being liable for defamation and has moved to dismiss the case. The broadcaster argues the edit caused Trump no real injury.

The fallout has been severe for the BBC. A leaked internal memo highlighting the edits as evidence of potential political bias triggered a crisis at the broadcaster. Director General Tim Davie stepped down, and Deborah Turness, who led the BBC’s news division, also left. The BBC has said it will defend the case.

Discovery battles

The case is one of several Trump has filed against news organisations as part of a wider pressure campaign against coverage he dislikes. In court filings, the BBC has accused Trump and his lawyers of dragging their feet on discovery, the pre-trial exchange of records and evidence.

The broadcaster is seeking financial records from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club and associated business entities. It says the documents are needed to challenge his damages claims. Trump’s lawyers call the requests too broad and irrelevant.

Trump is seeking at least $5 billion for each of two counts. The December 11 deadline stands unless the judge overseeing the lawsuit extends the discovery period, which currently ends December 18.

The ruling puts Trump in an unusual position: a sitting president ordered to submit to hostile questioning in a case he himself filed. How he handles the deposition could shape not only this lawsuit but the broader fight between his administration and the press.

Frequently asked questions

What did the judge order?

US Magistrate Judge Enjolique Lett ordered Donald Trump to sit for a deposition by December 11 in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC, with dismissal among the possible sanctions for non-compliance.

Why is Trump suing the BBC?

He accuses the broadcaster of deceptively editing a Panorama documentary to make it appear he incited the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. The BBC apologised for the edit but denies defamation liability.

What happens if Trump refuses?

The judge warned that sanctions could include dismissing the case entirely. She also allowed the deposition to be video-recorded over Trump’s objections.

Has the BBC suffered fallout?

Yes. The editing scandal prompted the resignations of Director General Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness, in what observers call the BBC’s biggest crisis in decades.

Sources: Associated Press via Reuters, Dawn, Channel News Asia