BBC Wants Trump Forced To Testify Under Oath in Explosive $10B Court Battle

Donald Trump is facing a fresh legal showdown after the BBC asked a Florida federal judge to compel him to testify under oath in his $10 billion (£7.5 billion) defamation lawsuit against the broadcaster, accusing his legal team of leaving a crucial deposition without a firm replacement date.

The BBC filed its request on 13 October after Trump withdrew from an agreed deposition scheduled for 16 October. His lawyers cited 'other matters of national importance', then proposed dates in January 2027, potentially pushing his testimony beyond the discovery deadline.

Trump's Deposition Delay Puts Discovery Deadline at Risk

According to the BBC's court filing, its lawyers first requested deposition dates in July. The parties agreed to 16 October, but the broadcaster says it was left waiting for confirmation after following up with Trump's legal team.

On 28 September, Trump's lawyers informed the BBC that the president 'is no longer available for his deposition on October 16 due to other matters of national importance'. They said they would provide another date, but the BBC says no firm replacement followed.

On 9 October, Trump's lawyers reportedly said he had no availability before discovery closes on 18 December 2026. They suggested the second or third week of January 2027 instead, placing the proposed deposition beyond the current deadline unless the court changes the timetable.

The BBC wants the judge to require Trump to confirm a date, identify a secure location and make the arrangements necessary for his safety. The broadcaster has pledged to keep the location confidential, citing the security considerations surrounding a sitting US president.

BBC Says Trump Is the Missing Piece in Its Legal Fight

The broadcaster argues that Trump's testimony is central to the case. After nearly eight months of discovery and seven depositions of BBC witnesses, its lawyers say they still have no confirmed schedule for questioning the man who brought the lawsuit.

'Plaintiff chose to file this lawsuit and, in doing so, he accepted the obligations of civil litigation,' the BBC's motion states.

Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Aytch Lett has scheduled a discovery hearing for 22 October, where the deposition dispute is likely to be addressed. The BBC is asking the court to compel Trump to arrange the testimony, but no ruling ordering him to appear has been reported.

What Is Behind Trump's $10 Billion BBC Lawsuit?

Trump filed the lawsuit in December 2025 over a BBC Panorama documentary that edited together separate portions of his 6 January 2021 speech, creating a sequence that appeared to show him explicitly urging supporters to attack the US Capitol.

Trump alleges that the edit defamed him and violated Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. He is seeking at least $5 billion (£3.8 billion) under each of two counts, bringing his total claim to $10 billion. That is the amount he is seeking, not damages awarded by a court.

The BBC has apologised for the editing error but disputes Trump's legal claims and has sought dismissal of the lawsuit. The broadcaster has also challenged whether a Florida court has jurisdiction over the case, arguing that the programme was not broadcast in Florida or the United States.

The fallout reached the BBC's leadership, with then director-general Tim Davie and head of BBC News Deborah Turness resigning amid the controversy. Their departures were followed by heightened scrutiny of the broadcaster, but do not determine the legal outcome.

Trump's legal team has accused the BBC of deliberately manipulating his speech and interfering in the election. Those remain allegations advanced by Trump, while the broadcaster disputes the legal basis of his claims.

Key Hearing Set as Trial Date Looms

The 22 October hearing could shape how the deposition dispute proceeds. If the judge grants the BBC's request, Trump's team could be required to provide a firm date and make arrangements in accordance with the court's order. The case is scheduled for trial in February 2027, according to current reporting.

For now, Trump's lawyers have cited 'matters of national importance' without publicly identifying the commitments involved in the reported correspondence.

With the discovery deadline approaching, the BBC is pressing to question the central figure in a lawsuit that has put its editorial judgment, Trump's allegations and the obligations of civil litigation under close scrutiny.