Governor Newsom Sues Fox News Over Alleged Defamation in Trump Call DisputeSacramento

California — July 13, 2025
California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News, accusing the network of deliberately misrepresenting a phone call between him and President Donald Trump amid escalating tensions over immigration enforcement and federal troop deployment in Los Angeles.
The lawsuit, filed in Delaware Superior Court where Fox Corp is incorporated, alleges that Fox News knowingly aired misleading content suggesting Newsom fabricated details of a June 9 conversation with the President. Newsom maintains that the last call occurred on June 6 (late evening Pacific Time, early June 7 Eastern Time), and that Trump’s subsequent claim of a June 9 call was false.
Fox News host Jesse Watters is at the center of the controversy, having aired a segment on June 10 that accused Newsom of lying about the timing of the call. The segment included a chyron reading “Gavin Lied About Trump’s Call” and an edited video clip of Trump’s remarks that omitted key context.
“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,” Newsom said in a statement, referencing the network’s 2023 settlement with Dominion Voting Systems.
Fox News responded by calling the lawsuit a “frivolous publicity stunt” and vowed to defend itself vigorously.
Legal experts note that Newsom must prove Fox acted with “actual malice”—a high bar requiring evidence that the network either knew its statements were false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth. Newsom’s attorneys argue that the network’s actions meet this threshold and have caused reputational harm that could affect future elections.
The lawsuit adds fuel to an already volatile relationship between Newsom and Trump, marked by clashes over immigration, climate policy, and federal intervention in state affairs. It also positions Newsom as a prominent Democratic figure willing to challenge conservative media narratives ahead of the 2026 presidential race.
Newsom has indicated he would drop the lawsuit if Fox News issues a retraction and Watters delivers an on-air apology. As of now, no such action has been taken.