Judge orders Trump to give deposition in $10 billion BBC lawsuit
publishers 65articles 74first reported 13 Oct, 20:49 UTCdeveloping since 14 Oct · 19 editions
A federal judge in Miami has ordered President Donald Trump to answer questions under oath by December 11 in his $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC, warning that failure to cooperate could result in sanctions, including dismissal of the case.
Judge Enjolique Lett issued the order after the BBC complained that Trump had not appeared for a deposition, including one previously scheduled for October 16. Trump’s lawyers said presidential duties involving “matters of national importance” prevented his attendance and proposed dates in January. The judge also rejected an attempt to prevent the deposition from being filmed and gave Trump’s legal team 30 days to provide relevant documents sought by the broadcaster. The recording will initially be restricted to lawyers in the case.
Trump sued the BBC in Florida in December 2025 over a documentary that combined separate excerpts from his speech before the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. He alleges that the edit falsely portrayed him as directly encouraging violence, damaging his reputation and business interests. His complaint seeks at least $5 billion for alleged defamation and $5 billion for alleged violations of Florida’s deceptive-trade-practices law.
The BBC has apologized for the edit but denies that it caused Trump injury or provides grounds for defamation. It has moved to dismiss the lawsuit and challenged the Florida court’s jurisdiction, arguing that the documentary was produced in London and was not broadcast in the United States.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 2 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 258 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
- 65
- Source articles
- 74
- Given to the writer
- 8, 2 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 258 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
- Publication gate
- passed
- Human review
- none
WHAT THE EDITOR DID
The second model checked the writer's draft against the same sources and published it as written.
Written by a language model from the sources above, then checked by a second model that may only cut, attribute or correct. How it works →