Judge gives Trump deadline to sit for deposition in BBC defamation suit

A U.S. magistrate judge has ruled that President Donald Trump must appear for a deposition in his $10 billion BBC defamation case no later than Dec. 11. The decision came a week after Trump canceled his previously scheduled Oct. 16 deposition, claiming he was engaged in "party politics" and campaigning in Georgia. BBC attorney Charles Tobin stated that Trump's lawyers were prioritizing party matters over the deposition, and the broadcaster's lawyers have yet to successfully depose the president, with only two months of discovery remaining.

Discovery for the lawsuit is set to conclude on Dec. 18, but could be extended. Trump faces potential sanctions or dismissal of his lawsuit if he fails to comply with the Dec. 11 deposition deadline. The BBC claims Trump is attempting to delay his appearance until January 2027. Trump originally sued the BBC for $5 billion in December 2025, alleging that a "Panorama" documentary "Trump: A Second Chance?" contained a defamatory and false edit suggesting he incited violence before the Jan.

6, 2021, insurrection. He seeks an additional $5 billion under Florida's deceptive trade practices law. The British broadcaster has apologized for the editing, but maintains that it did not defame Trump, as he won his re-election. However, the BBC has recently replaced its senior staff. Additionally, the BBC has filed a request to depose former special counsel Jack Smith, seeking potentially relevant evidence regarding the Jan. 6 incident.