Gavin Newsom sues Fox News for $787M in defamation case over Trump call
Gavin Newsom is adopting a tactic from Donald Trump’s media playbook.
The California governor filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News on Friday, seeking $787 million in damages. This comes after host Jesse Watters accused him of lying about his phone conversations with Trump, who recently ordered National Guard troops to Los Angeles. Newsom’s legal team claims that Watters’ show falsely edited a clip of Trump to support this accusation.
The amount sought mirrors the $787.5 million Fox News paid Dominion Voting Systems in 2023 to settle a defamation case related to election misinformation. This filing also appears as Trump has initiated several lawsuits against media companies, some resulting in multi-million-dollar settlements.
“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 told POLITICO. “Until Fox is willing to be truthful, I’ll continue pushing back against their propaganda machine.”
Fox News responded by labeling the lawsuit “a transparent publicity stunt” aimed at silencing criticism of the governor. The network pledged to “defend this case vigorously” and anticipates dismissal.
Winning a defamation case is notoriously challenging for public officials due to the New York Times v. Sullivan precedent established sixty years ago. Nonetheless, the lawsuit marks a notable escalation in Newsom’s conflict with Trump and his media supporters. Aides indicate that Newsom filed the suit personally and will cover any potential expenses with his campaign funds, directing any proceeds toward anti-Trump initiatives.
The lawsuit draws similarities to Trump’s media battles. This includes his December settlement with ABC, which reportedly paid $15 million after anchor George Stephanopoulos incorrectly stated Trump was found liable for rape (he was found liable for sexual abuse). Trump also sued CBS’ 60 Minutes last fall, claiming the show edited an interview with Kamala Harris to misrepresent him. Two CBS executives have since departed, and that case remains unresolved as Paramount considers a significant ownership change.
Newsom’s lawyers said he would withdraw the suit if Fox retracts its statements and Watters issues an on-air apology.
Filed in Delaware Superior Court, where Fox News is incorporated, the complaint reveals that Newsom last spoke to Trump on June 7 for about 16 minutes, one day before Trump dispatched 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles against Newsom’s wishes. Trump later told reporters on June 10 that he had spoken to Newsom “a day ago,” suggesting a later conversation. Newsom quickly disputed that claim on X (formerly Twitter).
That evening, Watters aired an edited clip of Trump’s comments and questioned viewers, “Why would Newsom lie and claim Trump never called him?” He even showed a screenshot from Trump’s call history confirming the June 7 conversation, supporting Newsom’s account.
Newsom’s lawyers argue that the broadcast meets the legal standards for defamation and could harm the governor’s credibility with voters. They also contend that it violates California’s Unfair Competition Law, which prohibits misleading business practices.
Attorneys Mark Bankston and Michael Teter sent a five-page letter to Fox, filled with sharp criticism of the network’s honesty and sarcastic remarks about Trump’s mental fitness. “It’s hardly shocking that a near-octogenarian prone to delusional public statements might confuse dates,” they wrote. “But Fox’s effort to cover for Trump’s mistake cannot be dismissed so easily.”
Newsom has a long-standing contentious relationship with Fox. He is often both a target and guest, enjoying debates with hosts like Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly. Despite his criticism of the network's conservative bias, he continues to appear on its programs — including a 2023 interview where he accused Hannity of helping Ron DeSantis “cheat” during a televised debate.
His relationship with Trump has also mirrored this love-hate dynamic. This year, the two shared a brief hug while Trump inspected wildfire damage, only for Newsom to sue him months later over tariffs, followed by a fierce critique during a primetime address that reaffirmed his role as a prominent Democratic opponent to Trump.
This rivalry has made Newsom a target in conservative media. Just last week, the New York Post mocked him on its cover for drinking wine in Napa as Trump deployed troops, although Newsom’s office clarified that he was attending a cancer charity event in memory of his late mother.
Newsom’s legal team is experienced in handling high-profile defamation battles. Bankston previously represented the families of Sandy Hook victims in their landmark case against conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, winning $49.3 million in damages in 2022.