Newsom Sues Fox News: Defamation Lawsuit
- Gavin Newsom is taking legal action against Fox News, seeking $787 million in damages.
- The heart of the dispute centers on comments made by Fox News anchor Jesse Watters, who accused Newsom of lying about the occurrence of a phone call with...
- Newsom's lawsuit claims Fox News harbors "notable ill will" toward him due to his progressive values and opposition to the network's agenda.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has filed a high-stakes defamation lawsuit with a $787 million claim against Fox News due to what he calls misleading statements. This legal action centers on comments made by Jesse Watters regarding a phone call with Donald Trump; Newsom alleges the network, seeking favor with the former president, twisted facts and thus committed defamation. The lawsuit aims to hold Fox News accountable for alleged falsehoods. The suit mirrors the amount Fox Corp. paid in the Dominion Voting Systems settlement, signaling the gravity of these types of cases. Read more about Newsom’s fight against what he labels a propaganda machine and his demand for a retraction and apology. For more on this breaking story, visit News Directory 3 for the latest. discover what’s next …
Newsom Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Fox News Over Trump Call
updated June 27, 2025
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is taking legal action against Fox News, seeking $787 million in damages. The lawsuit, filed Friday in Delaware superior Court, alleges the conservative network defamed him with misleading statements about a phone call with former President Donald Trump. The California governor is taking a firm stance against what he calls a “propaganda machine,” alleging defamation and seeking substantial damages.
The heart of the dispute centers on comments made by Fox News anchor Jesse Watters, who accused Newsom of lying about the occurrence of a phone call with Trump in early June. Newsom’s legal team argues that Fox News intentionally distorted the facts to curry favor with the former president, who has publicly feuded with Newsom over immigration enforcement and the deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles.
Newsom’s lawsuit claims Fox News harbors “notable ill will” toward him due to his progressive values and opposition to the network’s agenda. The suit mirrors the amount Fox corp. paid Dominion voting Systems to settle a similar defamation case related to the 2020 election.
The governor’s legal team has offered Fox News a path to avoid the lawsuit. In a letter, they stated newsom would voluntarily dismiss the case if Fox News retracts the claim that he lied about the phone call and issues a formal on-air apology from Watters and the network.
Newsom addressed the lawsuit directly, stating, “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, “I believe the American people should be able to trust the facts they receive from a major news outlet. Until Fox is willing to be truthful, I will keep fighting against their propaganda machine.”
Fox News responded to the lawsuit with a statement calling it a “clear publicity stunt” designed to stifle free speech. “We will defend this case vigorously and look forward to it being dismissed,” the network said.
According to the lawsuit, Newsom and trump spoke for approximately 16 minutes on June 6 or 7. While the conversation’s specific content is not central to the case, the suit emphasizes that Trump did not discuss the Los Angeles demonstrations or the National Guard during the call.The suit notes that when Newsom attempted to raise the issue, Trump changed the subject.
The lawsuit details how, days later, Trump claimed to have spoken with Newsom “a day ago” and criticized his handling of the situation in Los Angeles. Newsom denied the call occurred, stating on social media, “There was no call. Not even a voicemail.”
The suit further alleges that Watters played an edited clip of Trump’s statement on his show, omitting the president’s claim about speaking to Newsom “a day ago.” Watters then questioned why Newsom would lie about the call, with a chyron reading “Gavin Lied About Trump’s Call.”
The lawsuit asserts that Fox News chose to defame Newsom by branding him a liar, rather than simply presenting the facts. “Recognizing that President Trump was not correct, yet wanting to curry favor with the President, Fox News willfully distorted the facts,” the suit states.
What’s next
The case now moves to the Delaware Superior Court, where fox News is expected to file a response. The legal battle coudl potentially lead to a high-profile trial examining the boundaries of free speech and the responsibilities of news organizations.