Fox News pursues dismissal of $787 million defamation lawsuit filed by California Governor Gavin Newsom.
In a significant turn of events, California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a defamation lawsuit against Fox News for allegedly falsely claiming he lied about a phone call with former President Donald Trump regarding the deployment of National Guard troops during protests in Los Angeles.
The lawsuit, filed in Delaware Superior Court in August 2025, revolves around an edited coverage by Fox News host Jesse Watters that portrayed Newsom as dishonest about the timing and existence of the call[1][2][3].
Fox News, in response, has moved to dismiss the lawsuit, characterizing it as a political stunt and a spectacle designed to harass the network and silence criticism. The network argues that Newsom falsely asserted no call took place when there was indeed a call between Newsom and Trump[1][2][4][5].
The dispute arose after Trump claimed he had called Newsom to criticize his handling of wildfires, while Newsom initially said no such call occurred. Fox News aired segments accusing Newsom of lying, using an edited clip of Trump’s remarks[1][2].
In his apology statement, Watters conceded that Governor Newsom "didn't deceive anybody on purpose." However, Fox continues to characterize Newsom’s $787 million lawsuit as a "headline-grabbing gimmick."
The lawsuit's background and current status:
- The alleged lie pertains to a conversation between Newsom and Trump regarding immigration-related protests in Los Angeles. According to Newsom, he spoke with Trump at 1:28 a.m. on June 7, while Trump claimed they spoke a day later, on June 10.
- Fox News' attorneys argue that the lawsuit is intended to create a press spectacle and harass Fox News, rather than remedy any legitimate reputational harm.
- In its 45-page motion, Fox notes that Newsom's legal team stated they would dismiss the lawsuit if Jesse Watters apologized live and on air.
- As of mid-August 2025, the case is pending in Delaware, with Fox seeking dismissal and attorney fees while Newsom continues to press for damages and a public retraction/apology[1][2][3].
The lawsuit was first reported by ourplatform.com earlier this summer.
[1] [News Article 1] [2] [News Article 2] [3] [News Article 3] [4] [News Article 4] [5] [News Article 5]
- The lawsuit filed by California Governor Gavin Newsom against Fox News over false defamation claims is a significant example of policy-and-legislation in politics, as it involves a high-profile figure taking legal action against a media outlet for alleged misinformation.
- The ongoing dispute between Governor Newsom and Fox News over a defamation lawsuit, stemming from an alleged misrepresentation of a phone call regarding immigration-related protests in Los Angeles, continues to dominate general news, highlighting the sometimes contentious relationship between politics and media.
