A US federal judge has ordered Donald Trump to give sworn testimony in his US$10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC by 11 December 2026.
A US federal judge in Miami has ordered President Donald Trump to answer questions under oath in his lawsuit against the BBC. The order was issued on Thursday 22 October 2026 and sets a deadline of Friday 11 December 2026.
A sitting US president must now testify in a case he started himself. The ruling was widely reported on Thursday, including by the Puerto Rican outlets El Nuevo Día, El Vocero and Metro Puerto Rico.
Key Facts
—Order. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett ordered Trump to testify under oath in his BBC lawsuit.
—Deadline. Trump must be deposed by 11 December 2026; evidence-gathering closes on 18 December 2026.
—Claim. Trump seeks US$10 billion over a BBC documentary edit of his 6 January 2021 speech.
—Trial. A two-week trial is provisionally set for 15 February 2027 in Miami.
—As of 22 October 2026, 20:30 GMT
What We Know
In plain English, Trump says a TV edit made it seem he called for a walk to the Capitol. The BBC says it did not defame him, and the judge wants Trump’s sworn answers before the trial.
The order came from US Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett in the Southern District of Florida, which sits in Miami. A magistrate judge is a federal judge who handles pre-trial tasks for the judge who will preside at the trial, here Roy K. Altman.
Trump must give a deposition by 11 December 2026. A deposition is testimony under oath, given outside the courtroom and recorded for use in the case.
The timing matters because discovery closes on Friday 18 December 2026. Discovery is the phase in which each side gathers evidence from the other.
If Trump does not comply, he could face sanctions, including dismissal of his case. That risk would ease only if the court extends discovery beyond 18 December.
Trump had agreed to be deposed on Friday 16 October 2026 and then cancelled. He cited “matters of national importance”, while the BBC’s lawyers say he was campaigning in Georgia that day.
Judge Altman earlier rejected a BBC request to delay discovery, calling it “premature”. A two-week trial is provisionally set for Monday 15 February 2027.
Trump sued in December 2025 for US$10 billion in total. He seeks US$5 billion for defamation and US$5 billion under Florida’s law on deceptive and unfair trade practices.
The suit targets a BBC Panorama documentary, “Trump: A Second Chance?”, broadcast days before the 5 November 2024 US election. It joined parts of Trump’s 6 January 2021 speech that were delivered about 50 minutes apart.
The edit made it appear that he said he would walk to the Capitol with supporters and “fight like hell”. The BBC apologised for the edit, and its director general, Tim Davie, and its head of news resigned over the affair.
The BBC rejects the defamation claim and says it will defend the case. The BBC’s lawyer in the case is Charles Tobin.
What Is Not Known
It is not known whether Trump will sit for the deposition by 11 December 2026. It is also unclear whether the court will extend discovery beyond 18 December.
It is not known whether the BBC will ask the court to dismiss the case. The outcome is unknown, and the trial date of 15 February 2027 is only provisional.
What the Case Means for US Readers
The case tests how far a public figure can hold a broadcaster responsible for an edited programme. Newsrooms everywhere cut and join recorded speeches, so the court’s handling of this edit will be watched by many of them.
The plaintiff is a sitting US president, who must follow the same evidence rules as any other party. The order shows that a president who sues in a US court can be asked to answer questions under oath.
The BBC has apologised for the edit but rejects that it defamed Trump. Those are separate questions, and the court will decide the legal one on the evidence.
Press freedom and the right to seek damages both sit at the centre of this dispute. No court has yet ruled on the claim.
Three dates matter for US readers. They are 11 December 2026 for the deposition, 18 December 2026 for the end of discovery and 15 February 2027 for the provisional trial.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a deposition?
A deposition is testimony given under oath outside the courtroom. Lawyers from both sides ask questions, and the answers are recorded so they can be used in the case.
When must Trump testify?
Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett ordered him to be deposed by 11 December 2026. Discovery closes on 18 December 2026, and non-compliance could bring sanctions, including dismissal, unless discovery is extended.
Why is Trump suing the BBC?
He says a BBC Panorama documentary, broadcast days before the 5 November 2024 election, edited his 6 January 2021 speech unfairly. He seeks US$10 billion, and the BBC rejects the defamation claim.
When is the trial?
A two-week trial is provisionally set for 15 February 2027 in federal court in Miami. The date could change, and the outcome is unknown.