While the BBC has apologised for the incident, which prompted the resignation of multiple senior executives, the broadcaster has denied it caused Trump any real injury and moved for the case to be dismissed.
Trump filed his suit against the BBC in December 2025 and is seeking at least US$5b ($8.79b) on each of two counts.
Charles Tobin, a lawyer for the BBC, said in court that Trump had no real excuse not to testify and that on October 16, he had only been campaigning, “participating in party politics”.
“No plaintiff is above the law,” Tobin said.
In a court filing yesterday, Trump’s legal team argued that he was not seeking to avoid a deposition but had been constrained by “matters of national importance”.
The lawyers said Trump would be able to give a deposition between January 11 and 22.
Trump has made attacks on the media a signature of his two presidential terms, insulting reporters who ask questions he doesn’t like and seeking to ban outlets airing critical reports from the White House.
Most recently, the administration has plunged into a legal dispute with CNN, MSNOW and Politico over attempts to bar them from the White House.
With his approval ratings in the low 30% range and polls showing his Republican Party likely to lose control of the House of Representatives in the November 3 midterm elections, Trump faces increasing headwinds as he approaches his final years in power.
– AFP
