What changed
Donald Trump must answer questions under oath in his defamation lawsuit against the BBC by 11 December, unless the discovery period is extended. The case concerns a Panorama programme that edited together two sections of his speech before the 6 January 2021 Capitol riot.
Trump cancelled a scheduled deposition on 16 October. His lawyers now say he could appear between 11 and 22 January, while denying that he is avoiding the interview.
Why it matters
This moves the dispute from edited broadcast footage to Trump’s own sworn testimony. A deposition usually happens in a lawyer’s office, without a judge present, but the answers are recorded and can later be used as evidence at trial.
The underlying fight is already sharply defined. The BBC apologised for the edit and said it created the mistaken impression that Trump directly called for violence. It is asking the court to dismiss the case, arguing that the programme does not meet the legal test for defamation and was not available in the United States.
The timing matters because the court has now set a compulsory deadline, but the next step is not certain. Trump may sit for questioning by 11 December, the discovery period may be extended, or the court may first decide whether the lawsuit can continue.
Trump has also dropped claims against BBC Studios after the BBC argued that its commercial arm did not create or produce the documentary. The remaining case therefore turns on the programme, the edit, and what can be established through the court process.
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