BBC asks court to compel Trump deposition in €8.6bn defamation case

BBC seeks court order over Trump testimony in $10bn lawsuit

Usagevpn.com – The BBC has asked a federal judge in Florida to require US President Donald Trump to commit to a date for sworn testimony in his $10 billion (€8.6 billion) legal case against the British broadcaster.

The request comes as the discovery phase of the defamation lawsuit approaches its final two months. Lawyers for the BBC argue that, despite months of evidence gathering and multiple interviews with BBC witnesses, Trump himself has not yet been questioned under oath.

“Nearly eight months into discovery, after seven depositions of BBC witnesses, and with only two months of discovery remaining, the BBC still has not been able to depose, and does not even have a schedule to depose, the most central figure in this case: Plaintiff himself.”

The broadcaster has asked the court to direct Trump to provide a firm deposition date. The issue is due to be raised at a hearing scheduled for 22 October.

Central dispute over documentary edit

Trump launched the lawsuit in December 2025 after the BBC aired a documentary titled Trump: A Second Chance. His 33-page complaint accused the network of defamation as well as deceptive and unfair trade practices.

The case centres on the programme’s presentation of remarks Trump delivered on 6 January 2021, before supporters attacked the US Capitol. The BBC acknowledged that it had combined portions of his speech in a way that made it seem as though he had urged violence at the Capitol.

The broadcaster issued an apology over the edit, and two senior executives stepped down. It has nevertheless rejected Trump’s claim that the programme amounted to defamation.

Trump’s complaint describes the documentary as offering a “false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious depiction of President Trump.” It further characterises the broadcast as an effort to affect the 2024 US presidential election.

For the BBC, Trump’s own testimony is likely to be significant because he is both the plaintiff and the person claiming reputational and financial harm. Depositions allow lawyers to question witnesses before trial, clarify disputed assertions and assess how evidence may be presented in court.

Trump legal team repeats criticism of broadcaster

A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team did not explain why a deposition date had not been set. Instead, the response repeated the president’s accusations against the BBC and said he was pursuing accountability from media organisations he considers responsible for wrongdoing.

“Accountable for its defamation and reckless election interference just as he has held other fake news mainstream media responsible for their wrongdoing.”

The BBC’s filing does not ask the court to decide the merits of the underlying defamation allegations at this stage. Its immediate aim is procedural: to ensure that Trump sits for questioning before the discovery period ends.

Discovery is a major part of civil litigation in the United States. Both sides can request documents, seek written answers and question relevant witnesses under oath. A party’s failure to make a key witness available can become a point of contention, particularly when that witness is the person bringing the claim.

The court will now have to consider whether intervention is needed to establish a timetable. Any decision on the deposition request would not itself settle whether the BBC defamed Trump or whether the broadcaster’s editing created legally actionable harm.

A wider record of media litigation

The case forms part of Trump’s broader campaign against news organisations that he has criticised during and after his return to the presidency. His clashes with media outlets have included efforts to limit access, public attacks on journalists and lawsuits seeking substantial damages.

Those disputes have raised continuing questions about the relationship between political power, press freedom and the high legal threshold generally faced by public figures pursuing defamation claims in the United States.

In April, a federal judge dismissed a separate $10 billion (€8.5 billion) defamation lawsuit Trump had brought against The Wall Street Journal. That outcome did not resolve the BBC case, which involves different allegations, a different publication and a separate factual record.

The BBC litigation also carries unusual significance because the broadcaster has already conceded that its documentary editing created a misleading impression of Trump’s words. Its apology and the departures of two executives provide important context, but they do not automatically establish the legal elements required for a successful defamation claim.

In a defamation action, courts typically examine what was published, whether it was false or misleading, the level of fault involved and whether the claimant can demonstrate harm. The precise legal standards and evidence at issue will depend on the claims being considered by the Florida court.

What happens next

The 22 October hearing is expected to focus on the BBC’s request for a deposition schedule. If the judge grants the request, Trump could be required to provide dates for questioning before discovery closes.

For now, the dispute remains at a pre-trial stage. The BBC continues to deny defamation, while Trump maintains that the documentary caused serious damage and represented improper interference in the political process.

The next procedural decisions will shape how much evidence each side can collect before the case moves closer to trial. They may also determine whether Trump’s testimony becomes a central part of the legal battle over the documentary and its portrayal of his conduct on 6 January 2021.