Trump Ordered to Undergo Deposition in $10 Billion BBC Defamation Lawsuit

A federal judge in the United States has mandated that President Donald Trump must participate in a deposition as part of his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British broadcaster BBC. US Magistrate Judge Enjolique Lett ruled on Thursday that Trump is required to answer questions under oath during a session with the BBC’s legal team. This deposition must occur no later than December 11, or Trump could face penalties, potentially including the dismissal of his lawsuit.

Trump had initially been scheduled for a deposition on October 16 but canceled, citing a “matter of national importance.” However, Charles Tobin, a lawyer for the BBC, stated that Trump was actively campaigning in Georgia on that particular day. Tobin commented, “He was participating in party politics and prioritized that over sitting for the deposition.”

The lawsuit against the BBC is one of several legal actions Trump has initiated against news organizations over coverage he deems unfavorable or unfair. He is currently involved in another $10 billion defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal, which he refiled in May after its initial dismissal. Additionally, a separate defamation case seeks $15 billion in damages from The New York Times and book publisher Penguin Random House.

This pattern of litigation has raised concerns among press freedom advocates, who argue that the president frequently employs governmental pressure and legal threats to influence media coverage in his favor.

Trump's case against the BBC stems from a documentary titled "Trump: A Second Chance." The documentary included clips from a speech Trump delivered on January 6, 2021, the same day that supporters of Trump later attacked the US Capitol. Trump contends that a segment of his speech was misleadingly edited to imply he encouraged attendees to storm the Capitol while lawmakers were in the process of certifying his 2020 election defeat.

The British broadcaster has acknowledged that filmmakers combined different parts of Trump’s remarks from January 6. The head of the BBC and its top news executive both resigned, and the outlet issued an apology. Nevertheless, the network denies Trump’s defamation allegations. Trump maintains he never instructed his supporters to commit violence to prevent the peaceful transition of power.

Trump has consistently promoted the unsubstantiated claim that his 2020 election loss was due to widespread rigging. On January 6, 2021, he gathered supporters outside the White House to reiterate these claims, urging them to “fight like hell” and refusing to concede what he falsely described as a stolen election.

Trump and his associates were involved in efforts to retain power despite his loss, including the alleged recruitment of “false electors.” He later faced federal charges related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election, which were dropped after his re-election in 2024. A separate state-level case in Georgia accused Trump of a criminal conspiracy to subvert the 2020 election; this case was dismissed in November 2025 following the disqualification of prosecutor Fani Willis.

A congressional investigation into the events of January 6 concluded that Trump was hesitant to instruct his supporters to stand down after they breached the Capitol.