SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Governor Gavin Newsom has launched a $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News, accusing the conservative network and host Jesse Watters of spreading false information about a phone call with former President Donald Trump during a dispute involving the National Guard in Los Angeles.
Filed Friday in Delaware Superior Court, the lawsuit alleges that Fox News knowingly aired defamatory claims, asserting that Newsom lied about communication with Trump amid rising political tensions during recent immigration-related protests in California.
“Fox News has repeatedly abandoned journalistic integrity in favor of amplifying false narratives that serve Donald Trump’s far-right agenda,” the suit reads. “This lawsuit seeks to hold the network accountable for its role in damaging public trust and promoting disinformation at the expense of democratic principles.”
The legal filing references Fox News’ $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems in 2023, citing that case as evidence of the network’s pattern of airing false claims with real-world consequences.
In a statement, Fox News dismissed the lawsuit as political theater.
“This is a blatant publicity stunt meant to silence criticism,” a Fox spokesperson said. “Governor Newsom’s suit is without merit, and we are prepared to defend against it aggressively.”
At the heart of the lawsuit is a contentious exchange over whether Newsom and Trump spoke amid unrest in Los Angeles. During a June 10 Oval Office press availability, Trump told reporters he had recently called Newsom, saying, “I told him, got to do a better job.”
Later that day, Newsom posted on X (formerly Twitter), denying any recent contact: “There was no call. Not even a voicemail.” Yet, just two days earlier, in an MSNBC interview, Newsom claimed that he and Trump had spoken late on June 6.
The apparent contradiction fueled a segment on Jesse Watters’ Fox News program on June 10, during which Watters accused Newsom of dishonesty. “Why would Newsom lie and claim Trump never called him?” Watters asked, as an on-screen graphic read: “Gavin Lied About Trump’s Call.”
In a formal letter to Fox News, attorneys for Newsom, Michael Teter, and Mark Bankston, demanded a public retraction and on-air apology, threatening to proceed with the lawsuit if the network fails to comply. “Only a jury can assign an appropriate consequence for Fox’s blatantly unethical conduct,” they wrote.
The dispute emerged during a volatile moment, as Trump authorized the deployment of U.S. Marines and federalized the National Guard in Los Angeles to quell unrest linked to protests over Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.
Governor Newsom strongly criticized the move, calling it an unnecessary and inflammatory intervention. “There is no unmet need for federal forces in Los Angeles,” he said at the time, warning the deployment would worsen tensions rather than restore order.
The lawsuit marks a rare counterstrike from a Democratic leader against a network closely associated with Trump, reflecting a broader legal and political tug-of-war as both parties prepare for the 2024 election season. It also underscores growing scrutiny of the role media outlets play in shaping — or distorting — the public narrative.
