BBC Petitions Court to Compel Trump Deposition in €8.6 Billion Defamation Lawsuit

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has formally requested that a federal judge in Florida compel US President Donald Trump to provide sworn testimony in his ongoing €8.6 billion defamation lawsuit against the network. Legal representatives for the broadcaster filed the motion this week, citing significant delays in the discovery process. With only two months of the discovery phase remaining, the BBC argues that the plaintiff—the central figure in the litigation—has yet to be deposed or even scheduled for a deposition, despite seven witnesses from the network having already testified.

In the court filing, BBC lawyers emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating, "Nearly eight months into discovery... 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." The network has requested that the court mandate a deposition date and address the scheduling impasse during a hearing currently set for 22 October. In response, a spokesperson for Trump’s legal team declined to comment on the scheduling delays, instead reiterating accusations that the BBC engaged in "reckless election interference" and vowing to hold the broadcaster accountable for its reporting.

The legal battle stems from a lawsuit filed by Trump in December 2025, which alleges that the BBC’s documentary, "Trump: A Second Chance," was a malicious attempt to influence the 2024 US presidential election. The core of the dispute involves the BBC’s editing of Trump’s 6 January 2021 speech, which the network later admitted was manipulated to suggest he encouraged violence at the US Capitol. While the BBC issued an apology and saw the resignation of two senior executives following the incident, it maintains that the documentary does not constitute defamation.

This case is part of a broader pattern of litigation initiated by the President against major media organizations. While Trump has frequently utilized the court system to challenge mainstream outlets, his legal success has been mixed; notably, a federal judge dismissed a similar $10 billion defamation suit brought by the President against The Wall Street Journal earlier this April. The upcoming 22 October hearing is expected to be a pivotal moment in determining whether the BBC can secure the testimony required to proceed with its defense.