A federal judge has ordered former President Donald Trump to sit for a deposition by December 11 in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC. U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett issued the order after the broadcaster’s legal team argued Trump had repeatedly delayed the process, including canceling a previously scheduled October 16 deposition.
The dispute centers on a BBC Panorama documentary that edited together segments of Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech to supporters outside the U.S. Capitol. Trump alleges the BBC “intentionally, maliciously, and deceptively doctored” the footage to falsely imply he incited violence, while the broadcaster maintains the edits were an error and denies defamation.
Judge’s Ruling and Deadline
Judge Lett’s order requires Trump to appear for questioning under oath by December 11, or face potential sanctions, including dismissal of his lawsuit. The deadline falls within the ongoing discovery period, which closes on December 18. BBC attorneys had previously requested the court compel Trump’s testimony, arguing that his failure to commit to a new date jeopardized their ability to prepare a defense.
BBC’s legal team, led by attorney Charles Tobin, told the court that with two months left in discovery, “we still haven’t been able to depose the plaintiff.” Tobin noted that Trump canceled the October 16 deposition, citing a “matter of national importance,” and said the former president was instead campaigning in Georgia at the time. The BBC has asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing Trump’s claims fail to meet the legal standard for defamation against a public figure.
Trump’s Response and Legal Arguments
In a separate filing, Trump’s legal team proposed an alternative timeline, suggesting he could appear for the deposition between January 11 and 22, 2024, arguing the BBC was “wrong to claim that President Trump is avoiding his deposition.” The lawsuit, filed in Florida, accuses the BBC of deceptive and unfair trade practices in addition to defamation.
The BBC has maintained that the documentary never aired in the United States and that Trump’s claims of reputational harm are unfounded. In court filings, the broadcaster’s attorneys argued that Trump “cannot plausibly claim that the documentary harmed his reputation” because he won the 2024 presidential election a week after its broadcast and carried Florida by a wide margin. The BBC also apologized for the editing error, stating the program gave “the mistaken impression that President Trump made a direct call for violent action.”
Background of the Dispute
The Panorama documentary, titled “The Trump Tapes,” examined Trump’s role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. It included edited clips from a speech Trump delivered to supporters before the riot, splicing together segments to suggest he encouraged violence. The BBC later acknowledged the error and removed the program from its platforms. However, Trump’s legal team has argued that the edits were part of a broader campaign to defame him.
The lawsuit was filed in December 2023 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Trump is seeking $10 billion in damages, alleging the BBC’s actions caused him “irreparable harm” to his reputation and business interests. The BBC has countered that the documentary was a form of political commentary and that Trump, as a public figure, must prove “actual malice”—a high legal threshold—to succeed in a defamation claim.