A federal court has instructed Donald Trump to provide sworn testimony by December 11 as part of his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC. The broadcaster seeks evidence to challenge Trump’s allegations and the damages he claims to have suffered. During a hearing in Miami, US Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett set the deadline for Trump’s deposition, with discovery currently slated to conclude on December 18, allowing for a one-week window between the deposition and the end of the evidence-gathering process.
Background of the Lawsuit
The lawsuit, filed in December 2025 in a Florida federal court, stems from a BBC Panorama documentary that featured edited excerpts from a speech Trump delivered on January 6, 2021, prior to the attack on the US Capitol. Trump’s lawsuit alleges defamation and deceptive trade practices, claiming the BBC intentionally manipulated the speech to make it seem like he directly encouraged supporters to storm the Capitol. Although the BBC has acknowledged the editing was misleading and apologized, it disputes any legal liability for defamation.
A dispute over discovery has arisen, with Trump’s initial deposition scheduled for October 16 being cancelled due to his lawyers citing national importance and presidential duties. Subsequently proposed dates in January 2027 were met with objection from the BBC, which argued this would exceed the December 18 discovery deadline. Failure to comply could result in sanctions, including possible dismissal of the lawsuit, unless the discovery timetable is extended by the district judge overseeing the case.
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Trump’s lawyers had previously proposed alternative dates in January 2027, but the BBC objected to these, arguing they would fall outside the existing discovery deadline. Lett has now ruled that Trump must make himself available for deposition by December 11, emphasizing the need for timely completion of the discovery process.
Additional Evidence and Record Requests
The judge also ruled that Trump’s deposition may be recorded on video, rejecting a request from his lawyers for questioning to be recorded only by a court reporter. However, the video will be restricted to the attorneys involved in the case and will not be publicly released. Furthermore, the discovery process is extending into Trump’s business dealings, with the BBC allowed to obtain records detailing membership applications to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club from January 2020 to January 2026, along with associated fees. The broadcaster argues that the information is relevant to Trump’s claim that the documentary damaged his reputation.
Trump’s lawyers have challenged requests for financial and business records as overly broad and irrelevant. A separate dispute concerns former special counsel Jack Smith, whom the BBC wants to question about the events surrounding Trump’s January 6 speech. Trump’s lawyers oppose the deposition, arguing that Smith has no personal knowledge of Trump’s speech or his state of mind. Smith requires permission from the Department of Justice before giving evidence as a former federal employee. Lett has ordered the department to respond to his request for authorisation by November 2, leaving open the question of whether the BBC will ultimately be able to question him.
