Former President Donald Trump and ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos are scheduled for depositions next week in a defamation lawsuit filed by Trump against the network and Stephanopoulos. The case stems from statements made by Stephanopoulos during a March 2024 interview on "This Week" where he incorrectly asserted multiple times that Trump was "found liable for rape." The comments were made in a discussion with Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) regarding her endorsement of Trump.

Trump alleges defamation, arguing that Stephanopoulos's repeated assertion, made ten times during the exchange with Mace, was inaccurate. A jury found Trump liable for "sexual abuse," a legally distinct term from "rape" under New York law. Stephanopoulos's lawyers had pushed for Trump's deposition before a December 24th deadline for filing a summary judgment motion. They argued that Trump's post-election schedule allows for his participation, a point contested by Trump's lawyer, who cited security and logistical challenges. A judge ruled in favor of an in-person deposition for Trump during the week of December 16th, while allowing Stephanopoulos to appear remotely.

ABC News’s legal representation has expressed willingness to accommodate Trump's schedule, offering to conduct the deposition at Mar-a-Lago and limit it to four hours, even suggesting a Saturday meeting. Trump’s lawyer has stated his intent to cooperate within the constraints of the former president's schedule and security protocols. ABC continues to support Stephanopoulos. The trial start date has been postponed from April 2025 to June 2025 following requests for extensions from both parties involved.