Donald Trump summoned to testify under oath in his defamation trial against the BBC

On October 22, Donald Trump faced a setback in his defamation lawsuit against the BBC, as a federal judge ordered him to provide sworn testimony by December 11. The BBC claims Trump has been avoiding this deposition, which is crucial for their defense. Trump's lawyers previously canceled a scheduled deposition, stating he wouldn't be available until January 2027, just before the trial set for February. The BBC argues that Trump was engaged in political activities on the originally scheduled date. The judge emphasized the importance of the testimony and warned of potential sanctions if Trump fails to comply. Additionally, the BBC seeks to have former special prosecutor Jack Smith testify regarding Trump's alleged role in the January 6 Capitol riot. The judge has given the Justice Department until November 2 to approve Smith's testimony.