Judge Orders President Donald Trump To Provide Sworn Testimony

A federal judge has ordered President Donald Trump to provide sworn testimony by December 11 in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC, setting a deadline in a legal dispute over how the British broadcaster edited footage of his January 6, 2021, speech.

The ruling comes after attorneys representing the BBC challenged Trump’s proposed deposition schedule and argued that the president was delaying the process. Trump’s legal team had requested that the deposition take place between January 11 and January 22, 2027, citing the demands of his presidential responsibilities. His lawyers rejected the suggestion that he was attempting to avoid questioning.

Trump had initially been scheduled to give testimony on October 16. According to his attorneys, that appearance was canceled because of pressing matters involving national security and the economy. Their explanation referenced the conflicts involving Iran and Ukraine, along with the White House Accord on Super Intelligence, as reasons the president could not participate as originally planned.

The BBC’s legal team disputed that account, pointing to Trump’s activities on the day he was supposed to appear. According to a White House press pool report, the president traveled to Georgia for a political rally before attending a Republican National Committee event in Palm Beach, Florida, later that evening.

His published daily schedule also listed an intelligence briefing and time reserved for executive duties before the Georgia trip. BBC attorneys argued that Trump’s political commitments took precedence over the deposition, challenging his legal team’s explanation for the missed appearance.

The White House directed questions about the dispute to Trump’s personal attorneys. A representative for the president’s legal team maintained that the BBC had deliberately misrepresented Trump’s remarks through its editing of the speech.

The lawsuit centers on a BBC documentary that combined excerpts from Trump’s January 6 address in a way that his attorneys contend created a misleading impression of what he said. Trump has argued that the editing damaged his reputation and falsely suggested that he had directly encouraged violence during the events surrounding the Capitol riot.

The broadcaster subsequently acknowledged problems with the presentation of the footage. In a correction, the BBC explained that the editing unintentionally made separate portions of the speech appear to be one continuous passage. The broadcaster also acknowledged that the presentation created the mistaken impression that Trump had issued a direct call for violent action.

Trump’s legal team has characterized the editing as intentional and malicious, accusing the broadcaster of attempting to influence the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. His attorneys are seeking substantial financial compensation, along with an apology and a retraction.

The controversy has already had consequences for the BBC. Two senior figures at the broadcaster resigned following the backlash over the documentary and the handling of Trump’s speech.

The BBC’s attorneys had not publicly responded to the latest accusations from Trump’s legal team at the time of the report. On an earlier request for comment, the broadcaster’s lawyers declined to provide additional details.

The upcoming deposition could become a significant development in the dispute, potentially requiring Trump to answer questions under oath about the claims he has made against the broadcaster. The judge’s deadline puts pressure on both sides to move forward with the proceedings rather than allow the disagreement over scheduling to continue.

The case also places renewed attention on the responsibilities of major news organizations when editing political speeches. The BBC has acknowledged that its presentation of the excerpts created a misleading impression, while Trump’s attorneys argue that the consequences warrant a substantial legal remedy. Whether the president ultimately proves his allegations, and whether the court awards damages, will depend on the evidence and legal arguments presented as the lawsuit progresses.