Judge Orders Trump to Sit for Deposition in BBC Defamation Lawsuit by December 11

U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett on October 22, 2026, ordered President Donald Trump to sit for a deposition by December 11, 2026, in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC[1][2][4]. This order came after attorneys for the British broadcaster complained that President Trump had repeatedly delayed his appearance in the case[1][2].

This judicial mandate is significant as failure to comply could result in severe sanctions, including the potential dismissal of President Trump's lawsuit[1][4]. The ruling impacts the progression of a high-stakes legal battle and emphasizes the court's authority over all litigants, regardless of public status.

Judge Mandates Deposition

Judge Lett's order requires President Trump to give his deposition by December 11, 2026[1][4]. The deadline for discovery, where both sides exchange evidence, is December 18, 2026, and BBC attorneys expressed their desire to depose President Trump before this date[2][5]. Judge Lett also ruled that the deposition may be video-recorded for the use of the attorneys, rejecting President Trump's request to prohibit video, though the recording will not be released publicly[2][4][9]. Further, President Trump's legal team must produce required internal discovery documents within 30 days, with warnings of sanctions for non-compliance[4][6].

Lawsuit Background

President Trump initiated the $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC in December 2025[2][4]. The suit alleges defamation and deceptive trade practices concerning a documentary titled "Trump: A Second Chance"[2][5]. The BBC acknowledged that the documentary contained a misleadingly edited segment of President Trump's January 6, 2021, speech, where quotes were spliced to create the impression he was directly urging violence[2][4]. While the BBC apologized for the editing, and its head and top news executive resigned, the broadcaster has denied President Trump's claims of defamation[2][3]. The lawsuit claims the documentary caused “direct harm” to his businesses and reputation[9].

Delays and Excuses

Attorneys for the BBC, led by Charles Tobin, stated they had been trying to depose President Trump since July 2026[2][4]. An agreed-upon deposition date of October 16, 2026, was canceled by President Trump's legal team on September 28, 2026[4][7]. His lawyers cited "matters of national importance" as the reason[2][4]. However, Tobin countered in court that President Trump was campaigning in Georgia that day and hosting a fundraiser at Mar-a-Lago, arguing he "was participating in party politics and prioritized that over sitting for the deposition"[2][3][6]. President Trump's legal team later proposed rescheduling the deposition for January 2027, which falls outside the discovery period[4][6]. President Trump's attorney, Alejandro Brito, argued that President Trump's responsibilities extend beyond publicly listed events[4].

Consequences and Other Rulings

In additional rulings, Judge Lett permitted the BBC to subpoena membership applications, fees, and other records from President Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, covering January 2020 through January 2026[4][6]. This information aims to assess whether the documentary harmed President Trump's reputation or business interests[4][8]. The judge also warned that further non-compliance with discovery could lead to sanctions up to dismissal of the lawsuit[1][4].

What We Could Not Confirm

It remains uncertain whether former special counsel Jack Smith will be allowed to sit for a deposition[2]. President Trump's lawyers have opposed the BBC's subpoena of Smith, arguing he lacks personal knowledge relevant to the case[3]. Judge Lett has ordered the Department of Justice to respond by November 2, 2026, regarding permission for Smith's deposition[1][2].