Fox News Seeks to Disregard California Governor Gavin Newsom's $787 million Slander Lawsuit Dismissal Request
In a dramatic turn of events, California Governor Gavin Newsom has filed a $787 million defamation lawsuit against Fox News and host Jesse Watters, alleging the network lied about the timing of a phone call he had with President Donald Trump during tense immigration raids and protests in Los Angeles.
The lawsuit, filed in late August 2025, claims that Fox News’ false timing distortion was politically motivated to protect Trump and damage Newsom’s reputation. Newsom called the matter seriously, as it involved the deployment of troops onto LA streets against his objections, and accused Fox News of running a "propaganda machine."
In response, Fox News filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit earlier in August, labeling it a "political stunt" designed to boost Newsom’s presidential ambitions rather than address actual reputational harm. Fox News argues that host Jesse Watters had issued a form of retraction and apology, stating that Newsom "wasn't lying — he was just confusing and unclear."
The filing by Fox News characterizes Newsom's lawsuit as a "headline-grabbing gimmick." It also mentions that Watters' initial comments, if found to be factually incorrect, are still protected as they are an opinion. Fox News maintains that Watters' query about Newsom’s honesty is an opinion based on disclosed facts.
According to President Trump, he called Newsom to tell him "to do a better job," while Newsom claimed he hadn't heard from the White House in about three days. The conversation in question occurred on June 10, shortly after Trump activated the California National Guard to contain immigration-related protests in Los Angeles.
The 45-page motion filed by Fox News' legal team notes that Watters' apology statement acknowledged that Newsom "didn't deceive anybody on purpose." However, attorneys for Fox News now say that the governor's lawsuit is a "political stunt" filed solely "to advance his presidential ambitions."
In a surprising turn, Fox News' legal team stated that they would drop the lawsuit if Jesse Watters apologized live on air. The lawsuit does not indicate any new facts about the conversation between Newsom and Trump or any new evidence presented by Fox News.
As the legal battle unfolds, both parties continue to assert their positions, with Newsom maintaining that Fox News intentionally misrepresented the facts and Fox News arguing that their comments are protected by the First Amendment. The case promises to be a significant test of media accountability and free speech in the United States.
[1] https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/25/politics/gavin-newsom-fox-news-lawsuit/index.html [2] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/us/politics/gavin-newsom-fox-news-lawsuit.html [3] https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/08/12/gavin-newsom-files-defamation-lawsuit-against-fox-news-jesse-watters/ [4] https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-08-20/gavin-newsom-sues-fox-news-for-787-million [5] https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/gavin-newsom-sues-fox-news-787-million-alleging-defamation-n1284506
- Newsom's defamation lawsuit against Fox News and Jesse Watters has raised questions about social media and general news coverage, as the legal battle promises to be a significant test of media accountability and free speech in the United States.
- The ongoing dispute between Governor Gavin Newsom and Fox News has also brought entertainment and politics closer together, with elements of policy-and-legislation intertwined, as the case could potentially shape future regulations concerning false reporting and defamation.
