Lawyers for the BBC and for Donald Trump were tussling in court Thursday over whether former special counsel Jack Smith should be deposed in the president's $10 billion defamation case against the broadcaster - a possibility that Trump strongly opposes.

In a hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqu Lett in Miami, the parties were also expected to address the thorny issue of when Trump himself will be made available for deposition.

BBC asked the judge last week to compel Trump to appear after they said he canceled an agreed-upon date of Oct. 16, citing "matters of national importance." The British broadcaster says Trump is trying to delay his appearance until January 2027.