Judge orders Trump to sit for BBC deposition by Dec. 11
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
A federal judge ordered President Trump to be deposed by BBC lawyers by Dec.
The ruling threatens sanctions up to dismissal if he keeps missing dates.
Background
Trump, the US president and plaintiff, sued the BBC, Britain's publicly funded broadcaster, for $10 billion over a 2024 Panorama documentary, "Trump: A Second Chance." The BBC admitted it edited together parts of Trump's Jan. 6, 2021 speech so it appeared he encouraged violence at the Capitol, apologized and saw two senior executives resign, but denies defamation. The dispute is now over whether Trump, as the party who filed the suit, must answer questions under oath like any other litigant.
How it unfolded
- 2024The BBC aired its Panorama documentary "Trump: A Second Chance," which distorted Trump's remarks to supporters on Jan. 6, 2021.
- Dec 2025Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC in Florida, seeking $5 billion for alleged defamation and $5 billion for alleged unfair trade practices.
- Oct 15, 2026The BBC asked a federal court in Florida to order Trump to set a deposition date, with a hearing set for Oct. 22.
- Oct 16, 2026Trump did not appear for a previously scheduled deposition; the BBC said his attorneys told them he was "no longer available" due to "other matters of national importance."
- Oct 19, 2026Magistrate Judge Enjolique A. Lett admonished Trump for his lack of participation and warned that failure to comply would lead to sanctions.
- Oct 22, 2026Lett ruled Trump must be deposed by BBC lawyers before Dec. 11 or face sanctions up to dismissal of his lawsuit, unless the discovery period is extended past Dec. 18.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- The BBC's attorney Charles Tobin said that with two months left in discovery, the broadcaster still hasn't been able to depose the plaintiff, and that Trump campaigned in Georgia on Oct. 16 rather than sit for the deposition.
- Party
- Trump's legal team said the BBC defamed the president by "intentionally, maliciously, and deceptively doctoring his speech" and that his lawsuit holds the broadcaster accountable.
- Caution
- Trump's lawyers said he has not been avoiding testimony, that the BBC sought court intervention prematurely, and that he offered to sit in the second or third week of January 2027.
Still unverified
The court has not yet ruled on Trump's request to prohibit video recording of the deposition or on the proposed January 2027 deposition arrangements.