President Donald Trump is embroiled in a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC that has escalated into a judicial dispute over his participation in legal proceedings. In mid-October, Trump's legal team canceled a scheduled deposition on October 16, citing "matters of national importance" as justification. A federal magistrate judge in Miami responded by threatening sanctions if Trump failed to appear for the deposition.

On October 24, a federal judge in Miami escalated the matter by issuing a formal order requiring Trump to sit for the deposition by December 11. The judge warned that failure to comply could result in dismissal of the entire case. The lawsuit centers on defamatory statements Trump alleges the BBC made against him, though the specific claims and statements at issue have not been detailed in available reporting. The case remains ongoing as the December deadline approaches.