BBC Seeks Order for Trump Deposition Before Deadline

The BBC has asked a Florida federal judge to require President Donald Trump to provide a firm date for a deposition in his defamation lawsuit against the broadcaster and appear before discovery closes on December 18, 2026. The request is due to be addressed at a discovery hearing scheduled for October 22; no ruling has been reported. In a court motion, the BBC said the parties had agreed in July that Trump would be questioned on October 16. His lawyers later said he could not attend because of “other matters of national importance,” and proposed the second or third week of January 2027 instead. The motion says that would be after the current discovery deadline. The stated reason for Trump’s unavailability was not further specified in the supplied court reporting. The BBC says it accepted confidentiality around the deposition’s location and security arrangements, but had not secured a replacement date. It is asking the court to order Trump to schedule the testimony and appear before discovery ends. According to the BBC’s filing, seven of its witnesses had been deposed while Trump had not, with about two months remaining in discovery.