BBC Accuses Trump of Dodging Deposition in $10 Billion Defamation Lawsuit

• by Shimanta Das
• October 15, 2026

The BBC is escalating its legal battle with Donald Trump, asking a judge to resolve a deposition dispute in the president’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit. In a motion filed Tuesday, BBC lawyers complained that Trump has refused to sit for a deposition and has no schedule to do so, even as discovery nears its end. “Nearly eight months into discovery, after seven depositions of BBC witnesses, and with only two months of discovery remaining, 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: Plaintiff himself,” wrote BBC lawyer Charles Tobin. The network had planned to question Trump on October 16, but his legal team said he is unavailable for about two months, pushing any testimony beyond the close of discovery.

Trump sued the BBC in December over edits made in a documentary about the January 6th attack on the Capitol. The network has been seeking a quick dismissal, arguing in part that the court lacks jurisdiction because the documentary did not air in the United States. The BBC is again moving to dismiss the $10 billion lawsuit, challenging Trump’s claim that the documentary was broadcast in the U.S. “While Trump has earned a reputation as a president who loves to file outlandish lawsuits against major news organizations, his gambit against the BBC was weird even for him,” Tobin added, underscoring the network’s view that the case is legally flawed.

The deposition dispute highlights the high-stakes nature of the litigation. Trump’s powerhouse lawsuit aims to hold the BBC accountable for defamation and what he calls reckless election interference, mirroring his efforts against other mainstream media outlets. However, the BBC argues that Trump is now avoiding the very process he initiated. With only two months of discovery left, the network is pressing the judge to intervene, warning that Trump’s delay could deprive it of the opportunity to question the plaintiff before the deadline. The outcome of this motion could significantly shape the trajectory of the case, including whether it proceeds to trial or is dismissed on jurisdictional grounds.