Trump-BBC Legal Battle Intensifies as Court Orders President’s Deposition

The legal battle between US President Donald Trump and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has entered a crucial phase, with a federal judge ordering Trump to answer questions under oath by December 11 in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the broadcaster. The ruling follows weeks of disagreement over the president’s availability for questioning and comes as the BBC seeks to depose former special counsel Jack Smith to strengthen its defence against allegations arising from a controversial documentary about the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.

US Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett issued the order during a hearing in Miami on October 22, after the BBC complained that Trump had cancelled an agreed-upon deposition scheduled for October 16, citing “matters of national importance”. The broadcaster said Trump’s lawyers subsequently proposed postponing his testimony until January 2027, beyond the December 18 discovery deadline. The judge warned that failure to comply could result in sanctions, potentially including dismissal of the lawsuit.

The hearing also focused on the BBC’s attempt to question Smith, who led federal investigations into Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Trump’s lawyers argued that Smith lacks direct personal knowledge of the speech and that his investigative report and previous testimony already cover relevant information. The BBC countered that his extensive investigation makes him an authoritative source on the events surrounding the Capitol attack.

Smith’s proposed deposition remains subject to Justice Department authorisation, with Judge Lett directing the department to respond by November 2. Even if authorised, the court must determine the permissible scope of his questioning.

The lawsuit stems from the BBC’s Panorama documentary, Trump: A Second Chance, broadcast on October 28, 2024, before the US presidential election. The programme combined excerpts from different portions of Trump’s January 6 speech, separated by more than 50 minutes, creating the impression that he directly urged violence. The BBC acknowledged that the editing was misleading, apologised and said the programme would not be broadcast again. The controversy prompted the resignations of BBC Director-General Tim Davie and News CEO Deborah Turness in November 2025.

Trump filed the lawsuit on December 15, 2025, seeking billions in damages over alleged defamation and deceptive trade practices. The BBC denies legal liability and has challenged the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that the documentary was not distributed in the United States. The court rejected its request to pause discovery in February 2026, while further dismissal arguments remain relevant to the case.

The BBC is also seeking Mar-a-Lago membership applications, fees and initiation-fee records from 2020 to 2026, arguing they could help assess Trump’s claimed reputational damage. His lawyers dispute the request’s relevance.

Discovery is scheduled to close on December 18, with a trial potentially taking place in 2027 if the case proceeds. Trump’s $10 billion demand is not a court award, and the allegations remain unresolved. The next key developments are his deposition, the Justice Department’s response concerning Smith and the court’s consideration of the parties’ competing legal arguments.