The BBC is taking its fight with President Donald Trump back to federal court, asking a judge in Florida to compel him to sit for a deposition in the defamation lawsuit he filed against the broadcaster.
And the dispute comes down to one crucial question: When the president files a lawsuit, can he postpone answering questions under oath until after the deadline for gathering evidence?
Here’s what happened.
Trump and the BBC had agreed to a deposition on Friday, October 16. According to the BBC’s court filing, the two sides had spent months coordinating logistics, including arrangements for a secure location that would remain confidential.
Then, on September 28, Trump’s lawyers informed the BBC that he was “no longer available” because of “other matters of national importance.” They initially indicated they would provide an alternative date, but the BBC says that did not happen promptly.
Eventually, Trump’s team proposed a date in the second or third week of January 2027 — after the deadline for completing discovery, the phase in which both sides gather evidence.
THE BBC IS CHALLENGING THAT DELAY.
“Plaintiff chose to file this lawsuit and, in doing so, he accepted the obligations of civil litigation,” the BBC’s lawyers argued in their motion.
They also emphasized that nearly eight months into discovery, after seven BBC witnesses had already been deposed, the broadcaster still had not questioned Trump himself — the central figure in the case.
The lawsuit stems from a BBC Panorama documentary that edited together portions of Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech. Trump alleges the edit falsely portrayed his remarks and damaged his reputation. The BBC acknowledged the editing error and apologized, but it disputes that the edit amounts to defamation and has sought to have the case dismissed.
The stakes are significant. Trump is seeking up to $10 billion in damages, and the case is tentatively scheduled for trial in February 2027.
The BBC has also sought testimony and records from Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner as it prepares its defense.
Now, a hearing scheduled for October 22 is expected to address the deposition dispute.
The judge has not yet ruled that Trump must sit for the deposition. The BBC is asking the court to intervene and require his legal team to set a firm date and make the necessary arrangements.
This case is no longer just about an edited television documentary. It is also about the discovery process, access to evidence, and the obligations that come with bringing a major civil lawsuit.
👇 WHAT DO YOU THINK? Should a plaintiff be required to sit for a deposition on a firm schedule when the case’s evidence-gathering deadline is approaching?
