Trump Ordered To Testify In $10 Billion BBC Lawsuit By Dec 11 After Missing Earlier Date

A US judge has ordered President Donald Trump to testify under oath by December 11 in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC, warning that failure to appear could lead to sanctions, including the dismissal of his case.

Judge Enjolique Lett issued the order in Miami on Thursday after the British broadcaster complained that Trump had refused to attend a deposition scheduled for October 16.

Trump’s legal team denied that he was trying to avoid questioning, saying he had been occupied with “matters of national importance”. His lawyers said he could give a deposition between January 11 and 22.

BBC Challenges Trump’s Delay

The BBC’s lawyer, Charles Tobin, argued that Trump had no valid reason to miss the earlier date, saying he had been campaigning and “participating

in party politics”.

“No plaintiff is above the law,” Tobin told the court.

The judge’s deadline requires Trump to appear for questioning by December 11. If he fails to comply, he risks penalties that could include losing the lawsuit.

Trump filed the case in December 2025, seeking at least $5 billion on each of two counts. He accuses the BBC of deceptively editing its documentary ‘Trump: A Second Chance‘ to suggest that he encouraged violence before the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.

Dispute Over Documentary Editing

The controversy centres on Trump’s speech to supporters after his 2020 presidential election defeat, when he urged them to march towards the Capitol as Congress prepared to certify Joe Biden’s victory. The crowd later stormed the building.

The BBC has apologised over the editing, which led to the resignations of several senior executives. However, it has denied that the documentary caused Trump any real harm and has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit.

The legal battle adds to Trump’s wider conflict with news organisations. His administration has recently been involved in disputes with CNN, MSNOW and Politico over efforts to restrict their access to the White House.

(With inputs from agencies)