Trump Faces December Deadline to Testify in $10 Billion BBC Lawsuit

Thursday 22 - 20:00

A federal judge in the United States has ordered President Donald Trump to give sworn testimony by December 11 in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), setting a firm deadline in a case that has drawn attention to the relationship between political figures and major news organisations.

The decision, issued on October 22 by US Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett in Miami, follows complaints from the BBC’s legal team that Trump had not appeared for a deposition despite an earlier agreement to do so. The court warned that failure to comply could lead to sanctions, potentially including dismissal of the lawsuit, unless the schedule for gathering evidence is extended.

The ruling places Trump’s testimony at the centre of the next phase of proceedings, with the discovery period currently scheduled to close on December 18.

Court Sets Deadline After Dispute Over Trump’s Availability

The BBC had asked the court to intervene after an agreed deposition date of October 16 was cancelled. According to the broadcaster’s lawyer, Charles Tobin, Trump’s legal team cited a matter of national importance when postponing the session.

Tobin argued that the delay had left the BBC with limited time to question the person whose claims form the basis of the case. The broadcaster’s lawyers said they needed his testimony before the evidence-gathering deadline.

During the hearing, Judge Lett established December 11 as the deadline for Trump’s deposition. Any change to the broader trial timetable would require action by the judge overseeing the case, rather than the magistrate handling the discovery dispute.

The order does not decide whether the BBC is liable for defamation. Instead, it addresses the parties’ obligations to exchange evidence and participate in the legal process.

Dispute Centres on BBC Documentary About January 6

Trump filed the lawsuit in December 2025 over a BBC documentary titled Trump: A Second Chance. His complaint alleges that the broadcaster defamed him and engaged in deceptive and unfair trade practices through its editing of a speech he delivered on January 6, 2021, before the attack on the US Capitol.

The controversy concerns the way the programme combined excerpts from different sections of the speech, creating the impression that the remarks formed a continuous statement. Trump argues that the editing presented a misleading account of his words and damaged his reputation.

The BBC acknowledged that the editing was inappropriate and issued an apology. The controversy also led to the departures of the broadcaster’s director-general and its senior news executive.

Despite those acknowledgements, the BBC disputes Trump’s legal allegations and has denied that the programme amounted to defamation. The court will have to assess the competing arguments and evidence before reaching a decision on the merits of the case.

Jack Smith Testimony Adds Another Legal Dispute

The proceedings also involve a separate disagreement over whether former special counsel Jack Smith should testify. The BBC has sought his testimony, arguing that his investigation into the events surrounding January 6 could be relevant to its defence.

Trump’s lawyers oppose the request, maintaining that Smith lacks direct personal knowledge of the preparation and delivery of the speech and that his previous public testimony and investigative report already make the relevant information available.

The dispute raises questions about what evidence each side may introduce and which witnesses can provide material information to the court. Its resolution could influence how the parties prepare their cases as the discovery deadline approaches.