California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News, accusing the network of intentionally spreading false claims about a recent phone call between him and President Donald Trump. This happened during a time of heightened tensions over immigration raids and protests in Los Angeles last month.
The complaint, filed in Delaware Superior Court, alleges that Fox News aired misleading video clips and false statements that portrayed Newsom as dishonest about his last conversation with Trump. Newsom’s legal team argues the network’s reporting was designed to damage the governor’s political future by labeling him a liar. One cited example from the lawsuit includes a broadcast by host Jesse Watters, who said, “Why would Newsom lie and claim Trump never called him?” The segment also included an on-screen caption that read, “Gavin Lied About Trump’s Call.”
Newsom stated he spoke with Trump late on June 6 during the initial protests following federal immigration raids in Los Angeles. According to Newsom, the President never mentioned the subsequent decision to deploy the National Guard. On June 10, Trump publicly claimed he had spoken to Newsom “a day ago,” contradicting the governor’s earlier remarks. Newsom says he did not talk to the president again after the June 6 call. The lawsuit claims Fox deliberately amplified Trump’s false timeline to discredit Newsom.
The lawsuit argues that Fox’s actions harmed Newsom’s reputation and reduced support for his causes, fundraising, and potential future campaigns. Newsom is seeking the same amount of money Fox paid to Dominion Voting Systems in 2023 to settle a defamation lawsuit over false election claims, drawing a comparison between the two cases.
Newsom’s legal team indicated he would drop the case if Fox News issues a retraction and Jesse Watters apologizes on air.
Fox News has denied the claims and criticized the lawsuit as politically motivated. In a statement, a spokesperson for the network said Fox would fight the case and seek dismissal. The network did not confirm whether Watters or his team verified the details of the phone call before airing the segment.
The governor is bringing the case in a personal capacity, and, as a public figure, he must prove that Fox acted with actual malice, a legal standard requiring evidence that the network either knew the statements were false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth.
They are also accusing Fox of violating California’s Unfair Competition Law by engaging in deceptive practices.
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