Judge Orders Trump to Testify in $10 Billion BBC Lawsuit
A federal judge has ordered President Donald Trump to sit for a deposition by December 11, 2026, in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The order came after the broadcaster’s lawyers argued that Trump had delayed answering questions under oath, leaving limited time to gather evidence before the discovery period closes. U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett issued the deadline during a court hearing in Florida, warning that failure to comply could result in sanctions, potentially including dismissal of the lawsuit.
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 violated Florida laws governing deceptive and unfair trade practices. The dispute centers on how the documentary edited excerpts from his January 6, 2021, speech to supporters before the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump argues that the editing created a misleading impression about his remarks and their relationship to the violence that followed.
The controversy involves the BBC’s decision to combine excerpts from different portions of Trump’s speech. The edited sequence appeared to show a more continuous statement than Trump actually delivered, omitting context between the selected passages. The BBC acknowledged that the editing created the mistaken impression that Trump had made a direct call for violent action. The broadcaster apologized for the error, but it has continued to dispute that the editing establishes legal defamation or justifies the damages Trump is seeking.
Trump is seeking $10 billion in damages, divided between claims involving defamation and alleged deceptive or unfair trade practices. The lawsuit places the accuracy of the documentary, its potential effect on Trump’s reputation, and the legal responsibility of the broadcaster at the center of the dispute. The BBC maintains that an apology for an editorial error does not mean it is liable for defamation. The court has not issued a final ruling establishing liability or determining whether Trump is entitled to compensation.
The deposition dispute arose after the parties reportedly agreed that Trump would answer questions on October 16, 2026. According to the BBC’s lawyers, Trump’s legal team later canceled the scheduled appearance, citing matters of national importance. The broadcaster argued that Trump was campaigning in Georgia that day and that the cancellation prevented it from questioning the central figure in the lawsuit. The BBC said it had repeatedly sought a deposition date and needed the testimony to prepare its defense.
Trump’s lawyers have argued that his presidential responsibilities and security requirements affect his availability. The BBC, however, maintained that Trump voluntarily filed the lawsuit and must comply with ordinary discovery obligations. The judge’s order establishes a deadline for the deposition while leaving room for the presiding judge to modify the broader case schedule. If Trump does not appear by December 11, he could face sanctions unless the discovery period is extended.
The court also addressed whether the deposition could be recorded on video. Trump’s lawyers asked that the questioning be documented only by a court reporter, rather than through video recording. Judge Lett allowed video recording but restricted its use to the attorneys involved in the case. That means the recording will not simply be released publicly as a matter of course. The arrangement allows the lawyers to preserve the testimony while limiting public access to the video itself.
Another important issue is whether former special counsel Jack Smith will be required to provide testimony. The BBC subpoenaed Smith because of his extensive investigation into events surrounding January 6. Trump’s lawyers objected, arguing that Smith was not present when Trump delivered the speech and lacked firsthand knowledge of Trump’s state of mind at the time. The BBC countered that Smith’s investigation gave him substantial knowledge of the events and evidence relevant to the broadcaster’s defense.
Smith had requested permission from the Department of Justice before testifying, as federal rules require current and former government employees to obtain authorization in certain circumstances. At the hearing, the judge ordered the department to respond to Smith’s request by November 2, 2026. Whether Smith will ultimately testify remains unresolved. The court has not yet determined whether his testimony will be permitted or what subjects he could be questioned about.
The judge also allowed the BBC to obtain limited records concerning membership activity at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. The broadcaster sought information about the total number of membership applications from January 6, 2020, through January 6, 2026, along with membership and initiation fees for new applicants. The BBC argued that the resort’s popularity could help it assess claims of reputational harm. Trump’s lawyers questioned the relevance of those records, arguing that Trump does not personally operate the club. The ruling allows the requested aggregate information to be examined as part of the damages dispute.
The case remains in the evidence-gathering stage, with discovery scheduled to end December 18, 2026, unless the court changes the timetable. The latest order does not resolve the underlying defamation claims, but it requires Trump to participate in the legal process he initiated. The proceedings will continue to examine the documentary’s editing, the alleged reputational and financial harm, and the broadcaster’s defenses. The eventual outcome could clarify how courts evaluate claims involving edited political speeches, media accountability, and damages sought by public figures.
Key Legal Outcomes
- Deposition deadline ordered: Trump must sit for a deposition by December 11, 2026, unless the case schedule is extended.
- Possible sanctions: Failure to comply could lead to sanctions, including potential dismissal of the lawsuit.
- Video recording permitted: The deposition may be recorded, but the video is restricted to attorneys rather than being released publicly.
- Jack Smith’s testimony unresolved: The Department of Justice must respond to Smith’s request for permission to testify by November 2.
- Mar-a-Lago records allowed: The BBC can seek specified aggregate membership and fee records relevant to its defense against Trump’s damages claims.
Why It Matters
- Presidential accountability: The order emphasizes that a president who files a civil lawsuit may still be required to participate in discovery.
- Media responsibility: The dispute examines the legal consequences of editing political speech in a way the broadcaster acknowledged was misleading.
- Defamation standards: The case may clarify how claims of reputational harm are assessed when a public figure sues a major media organization.
- Evidence gathering: Depositions and business records can help both sides test the factual basis for claims and defenses.
- Court deadlines: The dispute highlights how failure to meet discovery obligations can threaten a lawsuit regardless of the plaintiff’s public position.
