Trump judge locks president into problematic December deposition

US President Donald Trump reacts during a Columbus Day celebration in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., US, October 9, 2026. REUTERS_Evan Vucci

Just one day after Trump judge Jeffrey Kuntz allowed Trump’s lawsuit against the BBC to proceed, the same judge demanded the president answer potentially embarrassing questions about his family’s money under oath.

An October ruling from U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett mandated that President Donald Trump answer questions about his family’s money, despite Trump’s lawyers clearly fighting to keep the president from taking the stand. Trump’s team has already canceled an Oct. 16 scheduled deposition. Prior to that, BBC lawyers said the initial proposed date for the deposition was for July, but they didn’t hear back until several follow-up requests. Eventually, they settled on October 16.

The litigious president sued the broadcasting company for $10 billion, accusing the network of defamation and violating Florida's deceptive trade practices law over the BBC-produced documentary, Trump: A Second Chance, which chronicles the fallout from Trump's January 2021 U.S. Capitol attacks.

But such a $10 billion price tag warrants the BBC to argue if it is necessary, which brings into question Trump’s wealth — of which the president is apparently unwilling to share with a court in sworn testimony.

“With two months of discovery remaining, the BBC still has not been able to depose, and does not even have a schedule to depose, the most central figure in this case: Plaintiff himself,” BBC’s attorney Charles D. Tobin wrote in the filing. “Those delays have flouted the cooperative spirit of discovery and precluded the BBC from obtaining the evidence necessary to robustly litigate its defense.”

Still trying to stay off the stand, Trump’s team submitted an expedited motion to stay Judge Lett’s order and his December deposition and discovery deadline. But District Judge Kuntz appears to be forging ahead.

“Given the looming discovery deadline, the logic logistical constraints of arranging the deposition … the parties shall comply with current scheduling deadlines,” proclaimed Kuntz on Thursday, adding that any additional changes that are to be made, or presidential appearance to be delayed, must be submitted in writing “on or by November 16.”

Knowing Trump’s history of stalling, U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett warned Trump’s lawyers weeks ago that the entire suit could be thrown out if he does not comply and take the stand.

But I Paper reporter Simon Mark, says Trump’s foot dragging to the stand is the equivalent of “blood in the water” to BBC attorneys.

"Little by little, week by week, the BBC is humiliating Donald Trump in a Florida courtroom that lies just 15 miles from his much-prized golf resort outside Miami,” said Marks.

From Your Site Articles