Trump–BBC Defamation Case Takes a New Turn

A key development has emerged in US President Donald Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC, as his deposition scheduled for October 16 has been postponed. Trump’s lawyers said he was unavailable because of other matters of national importance. The BBC has approached a federal court in Florida, seeking an order requiring Trump to confirm a firm date for his deposition. According to reports, his legal team suggested rescheduling the questioning for January 2027, after the deadline for completing the discovery process. A hearing addressing the dispute is scheduled for October 22.

The lawsuit stems from a BBC documentary that edited clips from Trump’s January 6, 2021, speech, following the attack on the US Capitol. Trump alleges that the editing created the misleading impression that he had encouraged the violence. He filed the lawsuit in December 2025, seeking $10 billion in damages. The BBC apologised for the editing error but said it had no intention of defaming him. The legal dispute continues, with the BBC arguing that Trump’s testimony is important to the case and should take place before the discovery deadline expires.