The essentials
A Miami federal judge ordered Trump to sit for a deposition by December 11 or face possible sanctions.
A federal magistrate judge in Miami, Florida, has ordered Donald Trump to sit for a deposition by December 11 in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC, which he filed in December 2025. The order states that failure to comply could result in sanctions, up to and including dismissal of the case.
The order follows Trump's cancellation of an October 16 deposition date that had been agreed upon. Discovery in the lawsuit is scheduled to end on December 18, 2026.
The BBC has also subpoenaed former special counsel Jack Smith in the case. The available information does not specify the reasons given for the cancellation.
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Lawsuit Timeline Runs From December Filing to Upcoming Deadlines
The case began in December 2025, when Trump filed a $10 billion defamation suit against the BBC. A deposition date agreed upon for October 16 was later canceled by Trump. The judge's order now sets December 11 as the deadline for his deposition. Discovery is scheduled to conclude on December 18, 2026, leaving only a short window between the two dates.
Court Order Carries Sanctions Up to Possible Case Dismissal
The order attaches a clear consequence to the deadline: failing to sit for the deposition by December 11 could expose Trump to sanctions, including dismissal of the lawsuit. The stakes are heightened because the canceled October 16 session had already been agreed upon by the parties. Meanwhile, the BBC's subpoena of former special counsel Jack Smith suggests that evidence gathering extends beyond Trump's own testimony before discovery closes.