Judge Orders Trump to Testify in BBC Defamation Case
WHO:
NBC News - U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett ordered President Donald Trump to sit for a deposition in his defamation lawsuit against the BBC.
NBC News - BBC attorney Charles Tobin told the judge that Trump had attended a political rally and fundraiser instead of his scheduled deposition.
NBC News - The BBC acknowledged splicing comments from Trump’s speech together, but maintains that it did not defame him and that he suffered no damages.
Drudge Report - The linked headline described the order as directing Trump to sit for a deposition in his defamation lawsuit against the BBC.
WHAT:
BBC - A deposition is an out-of-court statement made under oath in response to questions; a court reporter records it verbatim, and its transcript can later be used as evidence in a trial.
NBC News - The judge ordered Trump to sit for a deposition by Dec. 11 or face the possibility that his $10 billion lawsuit could be dismissed.
NBC News - Trump’s lawsuit alleges the BBC aired a “false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious depiction” of him in a documentary.
NBC News - The documentary spliced together comments from Trump’s speech at the Ellipse ahead of the Capitol riot.
NBC News - Tobin said Trump “was participating in party politics and prioritized that over sitting for the deposition.”
NBC News - NBC News sought comment from the BBC; the White House referred a comment request to a representative for Trump’s personal legal team, who did not immediately respond.
Drudge Report - The report linked the deposition-order headline to a separate item titled “President makes odd noise live on stage...” and a “VIDEO...” item.
WHERE:
NBC News - A federal judge in Florida issued the order.
NBC News - The disputed speech was delivered at the Ellipse ahead of the Capitol riot.
WHEN:
NBC News - The deposition was scheduled for Oct. 16, but Trump canceled it.
NBC News - The court set Dec. 11 as the deadline for Trump’s deposition.
NBC News - Trump filed the lawsuit last year.
NBC News - The speech at issue preceded the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
WHY:
NBC News - Trump canceled the Oct. 16 deposition for a “matter of national importance,” according to the article.
NBC News - The BBC’s lawyers complained that Trump was stalling. Tobin said the stated reason for canceling the deposition turned out to be a political rally and a fundraiser.
HOW:
Alternet - Biographer Michael Wolff said Trump’s “unrelenting aggression and litigious nature” contributed to his difficult position in the BBC case.
Alternet - The article said the BBC apologized for editing the documentary.
NBC News - The documentary combined excerpts from Trump’s speech by splicing together comments.
NBC News - The judge issued the deposition order after the BBC’s lawyers complained about delays.
(UPDATED October 23, 2026 04:07 UTC)
A federal judge in Florida has ordered President Trump to give a deposition in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC, or risk having the case dismissed. The deposition is an interview under oath, recorded for possible use as evidence at trial. Trump had been scheduled to answer questions on Oct. 16, but canceled, citing a matter of national importance. BBC attorney Charles Tobin told the court Trump instead attended a political rally and fundraiser, and accused him of prioritizing party politics over the deposition. The judge set Dec. 11 as the new deadline after the BBC’s lawyers complained about delays. Trump’s suit alleges the broadcaster defamed him in a documentary by splicing together remarks from his speech at the Ellipse before the Capitol riot. The BBC acknowledged editing the comments together but says it did not defame Trump and that he suffered no damages.
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(UPDATED October 22, 2026 17:11 UTC)
A federal judge in Florida has ordered President Trump to sit for a deposition in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC, setting a deadline of Dec. 11. The judge said the case could be dismissed if Trump does not appear. His deposition had been scheduled for Oct. 16, but he canceled, citing a matter of national importance. BBC attorney Charles Tobin told the court Trump instead attended a political rally and fundraiser, saying he prioritized party politics over the deposition. The BBC’s lawyers had complained that Trump was stalling. Trump’s lawsuit, filed last year, claims a BBC documentary falsely and maliciously portrayed him by splicing together excerpts from his speech at the Ellipse before the Capitol riot. The BBC acknowledges editing the comments together, but argues it did not defame Trump and that he suffered no damages.