RismadarVoice Reporters
October 22, 2026
A United States federal judge has ordered President Donald Trump to submit to questioning under oath in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), warning that failure to comply could result in sanctions, including dismissal of the case.
US Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett issued the directive on Thursday during a court hearing in Miami, setting December 11, 2026, as the deadline for Trump’s deposition.
The ruling followed complaints from the BBC’s legal representatives that the president had repeatedly delayed arrangements for questioning.
Trump was initially scheduled to give his deposition on October 16 but cancelled the appointment, citing matters of national importance.
However, BBC lawyer Charles Tobin told the court that Trump had participated in political campaign activities in Georgia on the scheduled date.
The broadcaster argued that the delay was affecting its ability to prepare a defence before the discovery process closes on December 18.
Trump’s legal team has cited presidential responsibilities and scheduling difficulties in explaining his unavailability.
The lawsuit, filed in December 2025, concerns a BBC documentary titled Trump: A Second Chance, which included edited footage of Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021, shortly before his supporters stormed the United States Capitol.
Trump alleges that the documentary misleadingly combined separate portions of his remarks to create the impression that he directly encouraged violence at the Capitol.
The BBC acknowledged that the speech had been edited in a misleading manner and issued an apology. The controversy also contributed to the resignations of senior executives at the broadcaster.
However, the BBC has rejected Trump’s allegation that the editing amounted to legally actionable defamation.
The legal dispute forms part of a broader series of lawsuits brought by Trump against major media organisations over reporting and publications he considers inaccurate or damaging.
The BBC has also sought testimony from former US special counsel Jack Smith, who investigated Trump’s conduct surrounding the 2020 presidential election and the January 6 Capitol attack.
Trump’s lawyers have opposed that request, arguing that Smith lacks relevant firsthand knowledge.
Judge Lett’s latest ruling does not determine whether the BBC defamed Trump. Instead, it requires the president to participate in the evidence-gathering process as the case proceeds.
Failure to meet the December deadline could expose Trump to further judicial action unless the court extends the existing discovery timetable.
