Desperate Trump Tries to Dodge Being Put Under Oath in BBC Lawsuit

Alex Wong / Alex Wong/Getty Images President Donald Trump was set to be deposed in his lawsuit against the BBC on Friday, but his team is trying to delay his questioning until next year.

The president sued the BBC in December, claiming it had defamed him by “intentionally, maliciously, and deceptively” editing two parts of his Jan.

6, 2021, speech to make it seem as though he had encouraged his supporters to storm the Capitol.

The complaint claims the editing damaged the value of Trump’s brand, properties, and businesses, but Trump’s lawyers now say he is too busy and won’t be able to sit for the deposition, despite having plenty of notice.

The BBC’s lawyers are asking the court to help them set a time to depose the president before the discovery window in the lawsuit closes in December.

Trump’s team agreed in late July to have the president deposed on October 16, according to the filing.

At the time, Trump’s lawyers indicated that details on the location would follow.

But since then, they’ve been largely met with radio silence.

“BBC’s counsel reached out again on September 16, 2026, seeking to confirm a location, agreeing not to disclose that location publicly, and inquiring whether the BBC would need to provide the names of those attending the deposition.

Plaintiff’s counsel indicated that he was ‘inquiring’ and would ‘get back’ to the BBC with a response.

He did not,” the filing detailed.

When they followed up again on September 24, Trump’s lawyer indicated four days later that he “is no longer available for his deposition on October 16 due to other matters of national importance,” but he then failed to follow up as indicated with a proposed replacement date by the end of the week.

“On October 7, 2026, the BBC again asked Plaintiff to identify a new date, time, and location for his deposition.

Plaintiff once more did not do so,” the filing stated.