Judge Sets Dec. 11 Deadline for Trump Deposition in BBC Defamation Suit

Key points

• U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett ordered Trump to appear for a deposition by December 11, or face sanctions including dismissal of the case.
• The BBC’s attorney, Charles Tobin, noted that Trump canceled a previously agreed October 16 session to campaign in Georgia, prioritizing party politics over legal obligations.
• Discovery in the case is scheduled to end on December 18, meaning the BBC needs the deposition before that deadline to prepare its defense.
• Trump filed the $10 billion lawsuit in December 2025, accusing the BBC of defamation and unfair trade practices related to the documentary 'Trump: A Second Chance.'
• The BBC acknowledged editing errors in the documentary that spliced quotes from Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech, leading to apologies and executive resignations, but denies the core defamation claims.

Background

This case stems from a documentary released in late 2025 that edited quotes from Trump’s January 6, 2021 speech to suggest he urged violence. While the BBC apologized for the editing and saw top executives resign, it maintains the edits did not constitute defamation. Trump’s lawsuit seeks $10 billion in damages. Earlier in October, the BBC sought a court order to compel the deposition after Trump’s team proposed a January date that would fall after the discovery deadline, prompting the current hearing.

How outlets are covering it

AP News and NBC News report on the judge’s order and the BBC’s complaint that Trump prioritized campaigning over the deposition. AP News provides specific details on the December 11 deadline and the threat of dismissal. Axios confirms the December timeline but offers limited additional detail. The Telegraph source is inaccessible due to a security block, so no perspective can be derived from it. BBC lawyers argue that former special counsel Jack Smith is a key witness, while Trump’s team argues Smith lacks personal knowledge and his testimony is duplicative, a dispute to be addressed in the same hearing.

Why it matters

The ruling underscores the tension between presidential duties and civil litigation obligations. A failure to comply could result in the dismissal of a high-profile $10 billion case, setting a precedent for how courts handle depositions involving sitting presidents. The outcome may also influence how media organizations handle controversial edits and the legal risks associated with them.

What to watch

Trump’s legal team must schedule the deposition by December 11, or the case may be dismissed. The parties are also expected to address the subpoena for Jack Smith in the same hearing. If the trial schedule is moved, the defense may propose a later deposition date, but only the presiding judge can alter the schedule.