A US judge has warned that President Donald Trump's $10 billion (£7.5 billion) defamation case against the BBC could be dismissed unless his legal team hands over documents the broadcaster has requested.

A deadline, and a warning

Magistrate Judge Enjolique Lett ordered the president to produce the relevant records by 23 November 2026, and to compile a list of any documents withheld on privilege grounds by 5 November. Her order, filed this week, said failure to comply "may result in sanctions, including but not limited to, dismissal of this action for failure to prosecute this case."

What the case is about

Mr Trump is suing the BBC in a Florida court over the editing of a 2024 Panorama programme about the US Capitol riots, alleging it maliciously edited his speech of 6 January 2021 to make it appear he had called for violence. The BBC apologised for the programme, titled Trump: A Second Chance?, but denies defamation.

Why the judge intervened

The BBC's lawyers argued it would suffer "extreme prejudice" if Mr Trump continued to disregard his disclosure obligations, pointing to delays over documents that are not in dispute and that he had previously agreed to disclose. Judge Lett noted his team's production "consisted of a mere 20 documents, all of which were previously produced by defendant and/or retrieved from the internet", and said she had concerns about whether an adequate search had occurred. The case has not been dismissed: the order sets deadlines, and dismissal is the sanction the judge warned of if they are missed.

Sources: The Times, Press Association.