California Governor Gavin Newsom filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News on Friday, alleging the network aired false statements about the timing of his phone calls with then-President Donald Trump. The suit, filed in Delaware, seeks substantial damages and a court order to prevent the network from repeating the alleged falsehoods.
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Newsom announced the lawsuit on social media, stating his intention to challenge what he claims are persistent lies by the network. The action highlights ongoing tensions between the Democratic governor and the conservative news outlet, particularly concerning its coverage related to former President Trump.
Allegations Against Fox News and Jesse Watters
The lawsuit centers on statements made by Fox News host Jesse Watters regarding the timing of phone calls between Governor Newsom and President Trump in early June 2025. Newsom claims Watters and the network falsely suggested the governor lied about when the calls occurred.
The complaint specifically cites Watters’ question, “Why would Newsom lie and claim Trump never called him?” This question was reportedly broadcast while Fox displayed a graphic overlay (chyron) stating, “Gavin Lied About Trump’s Call.”
According to the lawsuit, Newsom did speak with Trump by phone on the evening of June 6 and into the early morning of June 7, 2025. This communication occurred shortly after protests began in Los Angeles following federal immigration enforcement actions.
Trump later deployed National Guard troops and Marines to California in response to the protests, reportedly bypassing Newsom’s authority. Newsom asserts he did not speak with Trump again after the June 6-7 call. He publicly confirmed this after Trump told reporters on June 10 that he had spoken with the governor “a day ago,” a statement Newsom contends was false.
The lawsuit alleges Fox News created misleading video clips and made multiple false statements about the timing of the last call, acting with “actual malice.” The complaint claims the network aimed to portray Newsom as a liar and maintain favor with Donald Trump.
Lawsuit Seeks Significant Damages and Injunction
Governor Newsom is seeking US$787 million in punitive damages from Fox News. This figure is notably close to the amount Fox News agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems in a 2023 settlement related to defamation claims concerning the 2020 presidential election.
In a statement, Newsom drew a parallel to that case, suggesting Fox News should face consequences for allegedly lying on Trump’s behalf, “just like it did in the Dominion case.”
Gavin Newsom speaking, related to his criticism of Trump's response to protests.
In addition to the punitive damages, Newsom is also seeking unspecified compensatory damages for alleged harm to his reputation. The lawsuit requests a court order prohibiting Fox News from broadcasting or posting segments that claim the governor lied about the timing of his phone call with Trump.
The complaint states that Fox News demonstrated a “willingness to protect President Trump from his own false statements by smearing his political opponent Governor Newsom in a dispute over when the two last spoke during a period of national strife.”
The New York Times reported that Newsom would consider dropping the lawsuit if Fox News issued a retraction and Jesse Watters apologized on-air for stating that the governor lied about the call.
Scenes from Los Angeles protests and Governor Newsom's reaction to the unrest and Trump's actions.
This lawsuit marks a significant legal challenge by a prominent political figure against a major news network, raising questions about media accountability and the standards for defamation claims.
Explore more about Gavin Newsom, Fox News, and the context of the LA protests that provided the backdrop for the disputed phone call.
