Newsom Files Lawsuit Against Fox News Over Call Misrepresentation
California Governor Gavin Newsom filed a defamation lawsuit Friday against Fox News, seeking at least $787 million in damages. The Democratic governor alleges that the network knowingly aired false claims about a phone call between him and President Donald Trump, and refused to correct the record even after learning the facts.
Filed in Delaware Superior Court, the same jurisdiction where Fox settled a previous high-profile defamation case, Newsom’s lawsuit demands a retraction and public apology from Fox News host Jesse Watters.
Lawsuit Mirrors Dominion Case in Damage Amount
The damages sought match the $787 million Fox News paid Dominion Voting Systems in 2023, which stemmed from false reporting about the 2020 election. In his complaint, Newsom suggests that Fox News once again crossed a legal line by distorting information to support Trump and undermine a political opponent.
The lawsuit focuses on Watters’ claim that Newsom lied about not receiving a phone call from Trump on June 9, despite no such call being logged that day. Newsom stated publicly there had been no call, contradicting Trump’s statement during a White House briefing.
Fox Aired Edited Clip, Accused Newsom of Lying
According to the lawsuit, Watters played an edited clip of Trump that removed his reference to a June 9 call and instead juxtaposed Newsom’s denial with a chyron reading: “Gavin Lied About Trump’s Call.” Watters then implied that Newsom had fabricated his denial, despite internal knowledge that the last recorded call occurred days earlier.
The suit claims this was a deliberate distortion, stating Fox News “willfully misrepresented the facts” to maintain favor with the former president and to portray Newsom as dishonest.
Newsom Demands Retraction and Apology
Newsom’s attorneys offered to withdraw the lawsuit if Fox News formally retracts the false claim and broadcasts an apology. In a public statement, Newsom said, “If Fox News wants to lie to the American people on Donald Trump’s behalf, it should face consequences—just like it did in the Dominion case.”
He added, “The public deserves truth from major news outlets. Until Fox is willing to tell the truth, I’ll continue to fight their propaganda.”
Fox News Rejects the Allegations
Fox News responded by calling the lawsuit a “transparent publicity stunt” intended to suppress criticism. A spokesperson said the network would “defend this case vigorously” and expects it to be dismissed.
Timeline of Events in Dispute
- June 6 or 7: Newsom and Trump had a 16-minute phone call.
- June 9: Trump claimed he spoke to Newsom “a day ago” about the National Guard and Los Angeles protests.
- June 10: Newsom publicly denied any such conversation occurred.
- June 10 (Later): Watters aired an edited Trump clip and claimed Newsom lied.
The suit clarifies that although Newsom and Trump did speak days earlier, the subject of National Guard deployments was never discussed. When Newsom tried to raise the topic, the president reportedly changed the subject.
Defamation Case Adds to Newsom–Trump Tensions
This latest lawsuit escalates a long-standing feud between Newsom and Trump, particularly over immigration, law enforcement, and recent protests in California. It also marks one of the most significant legal actions by a sitting governor against a national media outlet in recent memory.
