California Governor Gavin Newsom filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News on Friday, alleging the network aired false statements about a phone call he had with former U.S. President Donald Trump. The suit, filed in Delaware where Fox News is incorporated, seeks US$787 million in damages and a court order preventing the network from broadcasting segments claiming the governor lied about the call’s timing.
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This action centers on Fox News’ coverage of the governor’s interaction with Trump during a period of civil unrest and federal action in California. Newsom asserts the network acted with “actual malice” to damage his reputation and protect the former president.
Allegations Over Phone Call Timing
The core of the lawsuit concerns statements made on Fox News programming, specifically referencing host Jesse Watters. The suit alleges Watters questioned Newsom’s truthfulness regarding the timing of a phone call with Trump.
According to the complaint, Governor Newsom spoke with President Trump by phone late on June 6 into the early hours of June 7. This call occurred soon after protests began in Los Angeles following federal immigration raids.
The lawsuit highlights a discrepancy: Trump later stated to reporters on June 10 that he had spoken with Newsom “a day ago,” which Newsom disputes as false. The complaint claims Fox News broadcast a misleading video clip and false statements about the timing of the last call, including a chyron stating, “Gavin Lied About Trump’s Call.”
Context of Protests and Federal Action
The phone call in question took place amid significant events in California. Following the protests and raids, President Trump later ordered National Guard troops and Marines to the state, bypassing the governor.
Newsom’s lawsuit contends that Fox News’ actions demonstrate 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.”
Thumbnail image related to LA protests.
Seeking Significant Damages
The US$787 million figure sought by Governor Newsom is notable as it is nearly identical to the amount Fox News agreed to pay Dominion Voting Systems in a 2023 settlement. That case involved accusations that the network promoted false claims about election fraud involving Dominion machines following the 2020 presidential election.
Newsom drew a direct parallel in a statement, saying, “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.” In addition to monetary damages, the governor seeks unspecified compensatory damages for alleged harm to his reputation.
According to reports, Governor Newsom has indicated he would consider dropping the lawsuit if Fox News issues a retraction and host Jesse Watters apologizes on-air for stating that the governor lied about the call with Trump.
For more context on the Dominion lawsuit settlement, you can explore our previous coverage here.
