Judge sets December 11 deadline for Trump deposition in BBC defamation suit

Key points

• Judge Lett ordered Trump to be deposed by December 11, with potential sanctions for non-compliance.
• Trump canceled an October 16 deposition to campaign in Georgia, which the BBC's lawyer called a prioritization of party politics.
• The BBC's discovery period ends on December 18, creating urgency for the deposition.
• Trump's lawyers proposed a deposition date in January, claiming the BBC is mischaracterizing the delay.
• The BBC subpoenaed former special counsel Jack Smith, while Trump's team argued Smith lacks personal knowledge of the 2021 speech.

Background

This case stems from a BBC documentary, 'Trump: A Second Chance,' which aired before the 2024 election. The film spliced two sections of Trump's January 6, 2021 speech, creating the impression that he directly called for violence. The BBC apologized for the editing error, leading to the resignation of its top news executive, but has denied the defamation claims. Trump filed the lawsuit in December 2025, seeking $10 billion in damages. The BBC has since asked for the case to be dismissed, arguing the documentary was not available in the US and did not meet legal criteria for defamation. Trump's lawyers conceded in July that the documentary was not accessible via BBC's US services, leading to the dismissal of claims against BBC Studios.

How outlets are covering it

The BBC's legal team, represented by Charles Tobin, emphasized the urgency of the deposition, noting that two months remain in the discovery period and that Trump's cancellation of the October 16 session was a deliberate choice to prioritize campaigning. AP News highlighted the judge's warning that failure to comply could lead to dismissal of the lawsuit. CNN reported that Judge Lett expressed skepticism about the thoroughness of Trump's document searches and backed a subpoena for Mar-a-Lago membership records. Trump's lawyers, as reported by BBC and AP, argued that the BBC is unfairly accusing the president of avoiding the deposition and proposed a later date in January. They also contested the BBC's subpoena of former special counsel Jack Smith, arguing he lacks personal knowledge of the 2021 speech and that his testimony would be duplicative. The BBC countered that Smith is a highly authoritative source on the events of January 6.

Why it matters

The ruling underscores the legal risks associated with Trump's aggressive litigation strategy. The case highlights the tension between political activities and legal obligations, as Trump's decision to cancel a deposition to campaign in Georgia drew criticism from the BBC's legal team. The judge's warning about potential sanctions, including dismissal of the lawsuit, signals that the court is taking the discovery process seriously. The case also raises questions about the availability of BBC content in the US, as Trump's lawyers conceded that the documentary was not accessible via BBC's US services. The broader implications include the potential for the case to expose Trump and his businesses to scrutiny from the parties he is suing, as noted by CNN.

What to watch

The next steps in the case will likely involve a decision on whether the deposition date will be moved to January, as proposed by Trump's lawyers, or if the December 11 deadline will be enforced. The BBC's attorneys will likely push for the deposition to occur before the December 18 discovery deadline. The court may also rule on the subpoena of former special counsel Jack Smith, with both sides presenting arguments about his relevance to the case. The outcome of these decisions could significantly impact the trajectory of the lawsuit and the evidence available to both parties.