A US federal judge has ordered President Donald Trump to testify under oath by December 11, 2026, in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC. The case concerns a documentary that edited footage of Trump's January 6, 2021, speech before the US Capitol riot. The ruling follows a dispute over delays in scheduling his deposition.
Trump BBC deposition deadline
On Thursday, October 22, US Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett ordered Trump to appear for questioning before the December 11 deadline. The BBC's lawyer, Charles Tobin, argued that the broadcaster had been unable to question Trump despite months of preparation.
The discovery process, during which both sides gather evidence and question witnesses, is scheduled to end on December 18. The judge warned that further delays could lead to sanctions, including dismissal of the lawsuit, unless the court extends the schedule.
Trump October 16 deposition cancellation
Trump had previously agreed to provide testimony on October 16 but cancelled the appointment, citing matters of national importance. BBC lawyers questioned that explanation, pointing to his participation in political campaign events in Georgia.
Trump's legal team rejected accusations that he was avoiding questioning. In a subsequent filing, his lawyers proposed dates between January 11 and January 22, 2027, arguing that presidential duties and security considerations complicated his schedule.
BBC January 6 speech editing controversy
Trump filed the lawsuit in Florida in December 2025, accusing the BBC of deceptively editing excerpts from his January 6, 2021, speech in a Panorama documentary.
The edited sequence combined remarks delivered at different moments, creating the impression that Trump directly encouraged violent action at the Capitol. The BBC acknowledged that the edit was misleading and apologised.
However, the broadcaster maintains that its mistake does not establish legal liability for defamation. Trump argues that the documentary damaged his reputation and seeks $10 billion in compensation.
BBC defamation lawsuit dismissal request
The BBC has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit, challenging whether the documentary satisfies US defamation requirements.
One central issue concerns whether the programme was accessible to viewers in the United States. Trump's lawyers previously acknowledged that they lacked evidence supporting certain claims about its availability through BBC-related streaming platforms.
In July, Trump also dropped claims against two BBC Studios companies after the broadcaster disputed their involvement in producing the documentary.
Trump BBC lawsuit next legal steps
The court's order places a firm deadline on Trump's testimony unless the case schedule changes. The deposition will allow BBC lawyers to question him about his allegations, the documentary and the damages he claims.
The judge has also addressed other evidence disputes involving potential witnesses. The case remains unresolved, and the December deadline could become a significant stage in determining whether the lawsuit proceeds toward trial.
